‘Evgeny, you don’t understand’: Kadyrov-allied Chechen leaders unite in criticizing Prigozhin for ‘yelling and screaming’ about army problems
Responding to Evgeny Prigozhin’s remarks about the Chechen battalion Akhmat, State Duma Deputy Adam Delimkhanov (an ethnic Chechen allied with the head of Chechnya Ramzan Kadyrov) recorded a Telegram video message to Prigozhin, telling him to tone down his statements about the military in general and Akhmat in particular.
On May 31, Prigozhin’s question-and-answer service published his reply to a media query about Akhmat battalion and whether it could successfully occupy the self-proclaimed “Donetsk Republic.” Prigozhin shared an opinion that Akhmat may have enough power to occupy certain locales, but hardly all of the “DNR.”
In his reply video, Delimkhanov assured Prigozhin that Akhmat is “meeting the goals set by the commander-in-chief,” that is, by Vladimir Putin.
“Of course, Evgeny, you don’t understand this, and you needn’t understand,” Delimkhanov said. “If there’s something you don’t understand, you can get in touch anytime and name the place where we can meet you and explain whatever it is you don’t get.”
Delimkhanov went on to criticize Prigozhin for negative publicity about the Russian military and its ammunition shortages, pointing out that, unlike Wagner Group, Akhmat’s commanders never complained about “being short of anything.”
“Enough with your talk, with all this yelling and screaming. Name the place where we’re going to see each other, and we’ll settle any questions you have, face to face, as Ramzan Kadyrov says. Enough already,” Delimkhanov concluded.
Speaker of the Chechen Parliament Magomed Daudov, another close associate of Ramzan Kadyrov, criticized Prigozhin’s public statements in a very similar vein:
You needn’t know, Evgeny, about our capabilities and our goals. This is something that our command and commander-in-chief who determines those goals know about, together with the republic’s head, Hero of Russia Ramzan Kadyrov.
Like Delimkhanov, Daudov rebuked Prigozhin for his “daily statements” that “sow a mood of panic among our country’s population,” inviting him to send the coordinates for “meeting as men do.”
Prigozhin’s response: Prigozhin responded to these criticisms by saying he doesn’t see anything wrong with his comments about the Akhmat battalion and added that, “in regard to my location, all those involved in this discussion know my confidential phone numbers very well and are able to connect with me.”
Wagner Group’s commander Dmitry Utkin response: “We’re already in World War Three. In response to the current events, I completely agree. Certain citizens must be put up against a wall, for the shame that they brought. PMC WAGNER HAS NEVER, DOESN’T, AND WILL NOT panic. We solve any problems that arise using the methods available to us, which do not contradict Russian laws and the constitution. Where did such familiarity come from? Who gave you the right to refer to [Prigozhin] [informally] ? We didn’t receive any planes, helicopters or MLRS [multiple rocket launcher systems] from you.” Utkin also added that he’s ready to talk “man to man,” and that he’s known his Chechen counterparts since the first and second Chechen Wars.