‘PUTIN’S CHEF'Prigozhin and Putin go way back, with both born in Leningrad, what is now known as St. Petersburg. He also organized catering for Kremlin events for several years — earning him the nickname “Putin's chef” — and has provided catering and utility services to the Russian military. In 2017, opposition figure and corruption fighter Alexei Navalny accused Prigozhin's companies of breaking antitrust laws by bidding for some $387 million in Defense Ministry contracts. But in September, he acknowledged being the founder of Wagner in a social media statement released by his companies' press service. Some media reports suggested Prigozhin’s influence on Putin is growing and he is after a prominent political post.

Source: Libya Today November 10, 2022 07:58 UTC