Journalists learned that the new Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Andrei Belousov, is friends with Yevgeny Prigozhin. They did not say how Belousov reacted to Prigozhin’s death.
The new Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Andrei Belous, was friends with the now deceased owner of the private military company (PMC) Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin. A Russian official who studies economic issues acknowledged the importance of mercenaries to the Kremlin’s influence abroad. Russian investigators mentioned contacts between Belousov and Prigozhin on the Dossier portal.
Investigators asked for the biography of Andrei Belousov and for this they gained access to his e-mail and electronic calendar. We also talked to the new head of the Russian Ministry of Defense and people who know Yevgeny Prigozhin closely. The findings suggest that both men maintained friendly relations. Belousov’s interest in Wagner PMC was noticed in 2018: Russian analysts believed that military companies should defend the interests of the Russian Federation in “gray zones”.
Andrei Belousov and Yevgeny Prigozhin – what is the connection?
The dossier portal provided several facts confirming the contacts of Belousov and Prigozhin.
First of all, the interlocutors of the journalists, whose names were not mentioned, assured that these two people were friends. When they met, they communicated like public figures and organized “meetings.” After friendly discussions, the matters were finalized by the subordinates. The investigation generally shows that it was Belousov who curated Prigozhin.
“He and Prigozhin sometimes sat directly in an embrace – naturally talking to each other about “you”, “Zhen”, etc. Study meetings were reminiscent of family meetings – they answered all questions informally over tea,” said Anonymous. Sources told reporters.
Second, information about the meetings is contained in the personal calendar of the owner of Wagner PMC, which the researchers had access to.
Third, in 2018, Belousov examined a number of information regarding private military companies. PMCs will need to perform tasks under the full control of Russian authorities and protect the Kremlin’s interests in the conflict with the United States and Great Britain. On the other hand, they had to ensure their independent existence, that is, to be “self-sustaining”. Another argument is the presence of large numbers of military personnel. The main users of such companies are the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, the FSB of the Russian Federation, companies, companies and individuals.
Additionally, investigators found that Belousov owned a villa in Forte de Marmi, Italy, until 2018. He finally sold it for 600 thousand euros and the money is in his account in a foreign bank. The article also mentions a quirk of the deal: The buyer was British Arthur Levin, whose documents were used by the Israeli intelligence service Mossad. Another detail that journalists pay attention to is the religiosity of the new Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, who begins every day with prayer and the fight against temptations.
It should also be noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu after taking office on May 7. Instead, he appointed a new person, Andrei Belousov, who had previously only dealt with economic issues, although his visa was based on proposals from the Russian Ministry of Defense. After the new appointment, experts explained what this could mean. It is stated that the Kremlin leader in particular is trying to find out how long the Russian Federation will have enough resources.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is the owner of Wagner PMC and a man who has been called “Putin’s chef” due to his closeness to the Kremlin’s food system. The Russians died in August 2023, two months after the Wagner mercenaries’ rebellion. The mercenaries demanded the dismissal of Sergei Shoigu, who allegedly wrongly led the Russian Armed Forces in the war in Ukraine.
We would like to remind you that political commentator Leonid Shvets made the following statement: FocusWhy the new head of the Russian Ministry of Defense is unprofitable for Ukraine.
Source: Focus
Alfred Hart is an accomplished journalist known for his expert analysis and commentary on global affairs. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he provides readers with in-depth coverage of the most pressing issues affecting the world today. With a keen insight and a deep understanding of international politics and economics, Alfred’s writing is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in.