By dealing with the ‘Prigozhin problem’ in such a duplicitous manner, the Russian dictator has devalued his guarantees and gambled the stability that makes him a predictable actor for Russia’s elites.
The brutal execution of former Wagner Group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin confirms two things: Russia is more mafia state than serious nation, and Vladimir Putin is under increasing threat from those closest to him.
At a glance, the murder of Prigozhin – whose plane “mysteriously” fell from the sky – sits comfortably alongside the poisoning, shooting and window-pushing assassinations Putin and his cronies routinely undertake. In fact, given Prigozhin’s aborted coup was two months ago, you might wonder what took so long.
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Misha Zelinsky is a Fulbright Scholar, a former assistant national secretary Australian Workers' Union, and expert associate at the National Security College.
