Prigozhin went for broke, but it is still impossible to call it a military coup in the Russian Federation, – opinion

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation could deliberately strike at the Wagner private military company (PMC) in order to simulate the death of the leader of the company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, on the battlefield. A conflict of this kind in Russia has been brewing for a long time. However, it is still premature to call this a coup. This opinion was voiced by the Russian opposition politician Gennady Gudkov on the FREEDOM TV channel.

“The conflict is ripe, it has been ripe for a long time. And they have only one way out: to pretend that he died a heroic death on the battlefield, because they cannot do anything with him – neither arrest, nor kill, they cannot do anything. Otherwise, he becomes an icon, a symbol, and even more dangerous will become dead than alive. Apparently, the Ministry of Defense tried to say in this way that they say he died in the war, striking at the Wagner, hoping that Prigozhin himself would be there and he could be written off. Then posthumously award and already solemnly bury, breathe calmly, and continue to continue their measured former life. Apparently, they did not succeed, judging by his performance. As I understand it, he has now gone for broke, ”said the guest of the broadcast.

Events in Russia show that relations in Putin’s circle are heating up, Gudkov says.

“It is still impossible to call this a military rebellion, a coup. This suggests that relations in Putin’s circle are heating up. They acquire the character of already open actions against each other. And armed,” said Gudkov.

This conflict with Prigozhin, he says, is already hurting Putin’s Russia.

“Apparently, after all, Putin is no longer able to pacify all these lackeys, all his courtiers. I understand that he can do it deliberately, to a certain extent. But I am sure that now this conflict is already causing the most severe, most serious damage to Putin’s Russia itself, Putin’s army, and Putin’s entourage,” Gudkov said.

Now the head of the Kremlin must make a decision, but he cannot do it yet, Gudkov believes.

“Next, a decision needs to be made. And Putin, apparently, cannot make such a decision. Prigozhin understands that now, the more loudly he holds these actions, the more chances he has: a) to save his life; b) to win this war,” Gudkov summed up.

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Earlier, the day before, the Russian media published a video of an alleged rocket attack, as a result of which more than 90 mercenaries of the private military company PMC Wagner were killed. According to the leader of the PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the fire was fired from the side of the RF Armed Forces. Further, the conflict escalated and Prigozhin blamed Shoigu and the Russian Ministry of Defense for the incident.