Russian oligarch and Wagner PMC founder Evgeny Prigozhin suggests U.S. is responsible for Russian defector's filmed murder
Russian oligarch Evgeny Prigozhin has asked Russian Attorney General Igor Krasnov to investigate the circumstances surrounding the murder of Yevgeny Nuzhin, a former prisoner and Wagner PMC mercenary who was summarily executed as a “traitor.” Prigozhin’s statement was published by his company Concord.
In the statement, Prigozhin says Nuzhin was a “volunteer” member of the Wagner Group and participated in combat, but denies that he was abducted and killed by his fellow service members.
According to the catering magnate, Wagner fighters could not possibly have abducted Nuzhin and brought him back across the front line without being caught, but the operation could have been carried out by U.S. intelligence services, who “abduct people throughout the entire world.”
To support his argument, Prigozhin notes that the video that appears to show Nuzhin’s murder includes “none of the Russian swear words typically heard in these kinds of videos.” He also claims that the color of the brick Nuzhin’s head is laid on before his death differs from the color of those used in Russia.
Finally, he says, the camouflage design on the uniforms worn by the people in the video looks like one used by an American company.
According to Prigozhin, no member of the Wagner Group could have carried out the murder, because none of them “provided information that they had abducted Nuzhin or taken part in his execution” when asked. He also said that Wagner fighters “are distinguished by their excellent discipline and strict compliance with international norms.”
Meduza survived 2024 thanks to its readers!
Let’s stick together for 2025.
The world is at a crossroads today, and quality journalism will help shape the decades to come. The real stories must be told at any cost. Please support Meduza by signing up for a recurring donation.