Yevgeny Prigozhin, a Russian oligarch often referred to as “Putin’s Chef” has asked the Investigative Committee to initiate criminal procedures over “spreading fake news about the Russian army” and “high treason” against Tatyana Yershova and Lilia Yapparova of Meduza, a Latvia-based independent Russian-language media outlet.
The reason behind this is today’s article about the involvement of the Wagner Group, a paramilitary network of mercenaries controlled by Prigozhin, in the Ukraine War. Meduza’s inquiry on the matter triggered Prigozhin’s appeal, the PR office of Concord, his consulting company, reports.
“Dear Alexander [Bastrykin, head of Russia’s Investigative Committee], I received some really weird questions from Lilia Yapparova of Meduza, a foreign agent. The questions indicate that Yapparova, alongside other Meduza employees, are preparing mass provocations against Russia. In relation to this, I am asking you to initiate criminal procedures against the aforementioned people,” reads Prigozhin’s appeal.
The inquiry was signed by Yershova; Yapparova was mentioned as a possible contact, Meduza says. One of the questions Prigozhin was expected to answer assumes that Russia’s Defence Ministry controls the recruitment process for the Wagner Group.