Russians marked the anniversary of the death of paramilitary commander Yevgeny Prigozhin with flowers and tributes. On a Moscow sidewalk, just a few hundred meters from the Kremlin, many admirers came to lay bouquets on Friday. The late head of the Wagner Group died two months after an unusual rebellion against the Russian Ministry of Defense, but he is still seen by many as a patriot, reported Agence France-Presse.
Most Russian media ignored the anniversary of Prigozhin’s death, according to Politico. In Novosibirsk, he was honored at the monument to the victims of Soviet-era repression. A year ago, the plane carrying Yevgeny Prigozhin exploded in mid-air. Two months prior, Prigozhin had ordered his men to leave their positions in Ukraine and march toward the Kremlin. Although the coup failed, Russians witnessed the unimaginable: a challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s authority from one of his supporters, Politico analyzes.
Prigozhin’s attempt failed, but his message that the Russian military leadership was leading the country to disaster, which continues to burn, was clearly compelling, writes the prestigious Politico. Putin has taken a series of measures to regain control: a major purge in the Ministry of Defense to instill fear in those who might consider rebellion.
Former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was transferred to the Security Council, several other officials were arrested and charged with corruption. The new Defense Minister is Andrei Belousov, a technocrat lacking the support and charisma to challenge Putin according to the well-known Politico.
Prigozhin’s failed coup and the subsequent public commemoration highlight the simmering discontent among Putin’s allies and the broader military leadership. Despite Putin’s attempts to reassert control through purges and replacements, the reality of a disgruntled and potentially rebellious faction remains a significant threat. The appointment of Andrei Belousov as Defense Minister, while intended to stabilize the situation, reveals the Kremlin’s desperation to avoid further challenges to its authority. As the discontent that Prigozhin exemplified lingers, the possibility of new figures emerging to question Putin’s leadership looms large.
