Former Russian intelligence officer Igor Girkin accused the head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, of getting ready to stage a coup in Russia. He said Prigozhin's recent criticism of Russia's military leadership suggests a rift in elites that Prigozhin will take advantage of with fighters that are withdrawing from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
Prigozhin has now hit back at the claims. He said on Monday 29 May:
He continued:
Prigozhin also said his paramilitary group is merely recommending certain corrections to the Russian system, not a revolution, as some other people are in Russia.
The think tank Institute for the Study of War pointed out in its latest analysis of the war in Ukraine on Monday that Prigozhin vaguely implied that it is actually Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu who could prepare a coup as he has access to Russian special forces.
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Despite this, the ISW noted that Prigozhin's direct references to Vladimir Putin have surged since 9 May, when he indirectly criticised the Russian President during the annual Victory Day celebration.
At the time, Prigozhin condemned the Wagner Group's lack of ammunition and not being allowed to retreat. He described Russian generals as traitors and added:
Vlad Mykhnenko, an expert in the post-communist transformation of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union at Oxford University, told Newsweek that 'obviously, grandfather is a reference to Putin'. However, soon after, Prigozhin denied he was referring to Putin.
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Sources used:
Newsweek: 'Wagner Boss Denies Plotting Coup Against Putin'