Mid-term elections will be held today in the USA. The Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close friend of Putin, admitted for the first time to “interfering with American democracy precisely in our own way” | The Russians have been trying for years to influence the results of the elections in the USA
Vladimir Putin’s ‘chef’ admitted to meddling in the US elections and promised to continue meddling in them for many years to come.
Ahead of today’s midterm elections, businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, 61, confirmed for the first time that he was involved in Russian meddling in the US election, although Russia has previously denied the allegations.
Prigozhin, who funded Russian troll farms that flooded US social media with false information, revealed on social media: “We interfered, we interfere and we will continue to interfere. Carefully, precisely, and in our own way.”
His confession came from the spokesperson of his catering company which earned him the nickname “Putin’s Chef”. The man has close ties to President Putin. In the past, Prigozhin denied any involvement in meddling in the US election, but has now admitted meddling.
He stated in September that he was involved in organizing the Wagner Group mercenary force despite previously denying it, and has since spoken freely about their involvement in Russia’s war in Ukraine. His military group has previously mobilized and sent troops to Syria and sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, a man resembling Prigozhin was recorded on video visiting Russian prisoners to try to recruit them to fight in Ukraine.
Prigozhin and 12 other Russian citizens and three Russian companies were charged in the US in 2018 with running a social media campaign aimed at causing trouble and dividing American public opinion ahead of the 2016 presidential election won by Republican Donald Trump.
Prigozhin has so far denied involvement in election meddling. Russian media, prisoners’ rights groups and relatives of prisoners have reported this year about a widespread effort by Wagner and sometimes Prigozhin personally to recruit prisoners to fight in Ukraine.