They’ve been protesting pro-Putin artists for years. Now Signerbusters are finally being heard.
Washington PostDec 24, 2021
The Facts
On Monday, Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin admitted for the first time to having founded the private military company Wagner Group, reversing years of denials and court cases against media agencies that investigated him.
Kremlin-linked Prigozhin stated on social media that he founded the unit on May 1, 2014 – after Russia annexed Crimea's peninsula from Ukraine – staffing it with veterans of the Russian armed forces.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
This confession exposes the direct link between the Kremlin and Wagner Group, proving long-standing suspicions that Wagner mercenaries work for the Russian government as Prigozhin is a close ally to Putin. The private military company has committed war crimes in Ukraine, Libya, and Syria, acting in support of Russian troops.
Pro-Russia narrative
While Prigozhin has confirmed he owns Wagner and praised its fighters as "Russian patriots," it's a very long jump to claim that this admission proves Western accusations that the Wagner Group operates under Moscow's orders. His alleged personal ties to the Kremlin are merely catering service contracts.
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