“Prigozhin’s coup was a PR operation that will go down in history” No agreement on designation of new protected areas in Antarctica

The Wagner specialist Peer de Jong gave our newspaper a background interview last week about Prigozhin’s machinations. On Sunday he answered our questions about the latest coup by the mercenary boss.

Mr. de Jong, what did Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin want with his coup?
Contrary to appearances, he did not want to provoke a coup. He did not take the whole city of Rostov, but only a few army buildings; and he broke off the journey to Moscow before reaching the capital. Primarily, Prigozhin wanted to pressure Vladimir Putin to have Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov fired after the Russian army bombed a Wagner camp. Prigozhin’s coup was a well-run public relations operation, one that will go down in history – but it was not a coup attempt like Mussolini’s 1922 march on Rome.

Was this operation deliberate or did Prigozhin act impulsively?
Prigozhin is a man of instinct. He felt he could take advantage of the moment and put pressure on Putin. Although in Russia this is happening under the pressure of armed violence. It shows once again that there is a mafia-like system in Russia, in which the strongest wins. And Prigozhin knocked out his two internal opponents in one day. I can well imagine that in a few days Putin will appoint General Sergei Surovikin – who is closer to Prigozhin – to lead the army.

Will Putin emerge weakened from this Prigozhin joke?
That remains to be seen. Naturally, his reputation was damaged. But maybe he can also strengthen his position if he appoints the right people, such as a pair of hawks who, unlike Shoigu, want to use all possible means to win the war.​

What consequences for Ukraine?
The Ukrainians already saw the end of the war approaching on Saturday. Now the war continues. This, of course, is difficult for the Ukrainians. At the same time, however, they can also continue their efforts to be admitted to NATO and the EU. All in all, today it is still too early to say how this “March on Moscow” will end. Talks are now starting in Moscow – with the key question of whether hawks like Surovikin will prevail – or diplomats like Sergei Lavrov, advocating a slow end to the war.

And how is Prigozhin doing now?
He is the man of the hour, he emerges stronger from his coup. But one should not be fooled by his role: Prigozhin is not necessarily the warmonger he is portrayed. He is a businessman who wanted to support his political intentions by forming the Wagner group. (aargauerzeitung.ch)