Who Assassinated Prigozhin? Duh, the English

[Celerity]

Russia’s belief in the cunning of UK spies and saboteurs is a go-to explanation when things go wrong for the Kremlin.

https://cepa.org/article/who-assassinated-prigozhin-duh-the-english/



By Julia Davis

In the ethereal world of Russian state media, Vladimir Putin is never to blame for anything bad. Russia’s almost-emperor is above rebuke — an unwritten rule his otherwise cynical and snarling propagandists obediently follow. Conveniently, however, there is a long-established lineup of the usual suspects, presented to domestic and international audiences whenever blame has to be assigned. The United States is prominent in this list, but what really gets the Kremlin’s mouthpieces agitated is the diabolical work of the United Kingdom, invariably referred to as England.

The latest case in point is the untimely demise of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group’s head mercenary, who had led the organization on a bloody but lucrative global rampage funded by the Kremlin. The ex-convict enjoyed easy access to Vladimir Putin even as the Russian government constantly refused to admit that the group even existed. From Ukraine and Syria and the interference in US elections, Prigozhin enjoyed the status of Putin’s untouchable shadow warrior— until his poorly judged mini-mutiny in June put an end to his sledgehammer-wielding reign of terror.

Once the short-lived uprising was over, the Kremlin’s mouthpieces on state television were furious. Despite Putin’s public assurances that all was forgiven, official propagandists revealingly insisted that Prigozhin was a traitor and should die, along with his right-hand man, the founder of Wagner, Dmitry Utkin. Prigozhin must have realized that this did not augur well. During the first post-mutiny broadcast of the TV show, Sunday Evening With Vladimir Solovyov, State Duma member, General Andrey Gurulyov, retired deputy commander of the 58th Combined Arms Army, said: “I am firmly convinced that during wartime, traitors have to be destroyed! Today, no matter who says what, whatever fairy tales they are telling, a bullet to the forehead is the sole salvation for Prigozhin and [Dmitry] Utkin. They know me! They know that I stand behind my every word. There is no other option!”

Gurulyov suggested Prigozhin and Utkin be given the option of committing suicide, or else being executed for their actions, as he reiterated: “Treason cannot be forgiven under any circumstances! It simply can’t be forgiven, regardless of any past achievements! I will repeat it once again: the only way out for these friends is to kill themselves before a bullet finds them! There are no other options for traitors.” Just as Gurulyov had predicted, Prigozhin and Utkin perished in a fiery plane crash on August 23, two months to the day after their mutiny began. Many noted they had been meeting with unnamed Kremlin officials just before the fatal flight — providing a convenient way for anyone interested to track their whereabouts thereafter.

snip

[usonian]

1. The English are very clever. Especially at disguise.

[Solly Mack]

2. I'd mock but I live in a country with MAGA-maniacs.

Those fuckers will believe anything.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Pretending the Great Game is still a thing. nt

[gab13by13]

4. Is he really dead?

[jcgoldie]

5. 007!!

Never underestimate Bond! I’ve seen this happen over and over in the movies!