In a significant development, Vladimir Putin has ordered a raid on Yevgeny Prigozhin’s lavish residence in St. Petersburg, effectively humiliating the Wagner chief after his failed uprising in Russia. Reports from Dailymail indicate that armed security personnel, acting on behalf of the Kremlin, conducted a thorough search of Prigozhin’s mansion while he was in exile in Belarus on June 24.
During the raid, investigators uncovered substantial stockpiles of assault weapons and ammunition, as well as hidden caches of gold bars. Furthermore, peculiar items such as a stuffed alligator and a framed photograph allegedly depicting the severed heads of Prigozhin’s enemies were discovered. Notably, the search also revealed a large collection of wigs in various styles and colors, ranging from grey to mousy brown, stored in a closet.
Leaked photos circulated on state-backed Russian Telegram channels purportedly show Prigozhin wearing different disguises using the wigs, leading to speculation about the authenticity of the images. Some observers have raised doubts about the quality of the disguises, suggesting possible doctoring in an attempt to discredit the Wagner chief further.
Supporters of Prigozhin have voiced concerns that the release of these images may violate Russia’s stringent national security laws. They argue that the leaked photos could imply Prigozhin’s involvement as a state agent, considering Wagner’s connections to Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU.
This development follows Prigozhin’s recent attempt to launch an armed insurrection against Putin, which was swiftly halted with the assistance of Minsk. The Belarusian capital played a crucial role in brokering a deal to bring an end to the conflict.
