Pavel Yevgenyevich Prigozhin (Russian: Павел Евгеньевич Пригожин, born 18 June 1998) is a Russian businessman and mercenary who has led the Wagner Group since 2023. The son of prominent oligarch and mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, he succeeded his father as the leader of the Wagner Group a month and a half after the 2023 Wagner Group plane crash.
Pavel Prigozhin | |
|---|---|
Павел Пригожин | |
| Leader of the Wagner Group | |
| Assumed office 1 October 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Yevgeny Prigozhin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Pavel Yevgenyevich Prigozhin (Павел Евгеньевич Пригожин) 18 June 1998 Saint Petersburg, Russia |
| Spouse | Yekaterina Sergeyevna Inkina |
| Parent |
|
| Awards |
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| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Russia |
| Rank | General Commander |
| Commands | Wagner Group |
| Battles/wars | |
| Business information | |
| Organizations | |
Early life
editPavel Prigozhin was born on 18 June 1998 (according to other sources - in 1996) in the family of businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin. He is the middle child in the family, growing up with his sisters Polina and Veronika.[1]
The Prigozhin family avoided publicity for a long time; Yevgeny Prigozhin did not disclose details of the personal lives of his relatives. Episodes from Pavel's biography rarely appeared in the media; sometimes his father talked about him.[1]
According to Yevgeny Prigozhin, his son served in draft military service, then signed a contract with his father's company. Several photographs of Pavel in American military equipment have been published; his business trips included the territory of Syria and Ukraine. As part of Wagner Group, he performed the functions of a reconnaissance officer and drone operator, and was awarded the Black Cross medal.[1]
Business career
editPavel Prigozhin's entrepreneurial career started in 2018, when he became the founder of the Beta company. Gradually his business expanded, and since 2020 he has headed Lakhta Plaza. Prigozhin Jr. has connections with the Colors of Life art gallery, headed by Violetta Prigozhina, mother of Yevgeny Prigozhin.[1]
Pavel Prigozhin cooperates with the oil and gas corporation Gazprom; his companies are involved in the construction of luxury real estate in Saint Petersburg. He is also the owner of Lakhta Park, a large housing complex.[1]
Wagner Group leadership
editOn 23 August 2023, a business jet crashed near Kuzhenkino in Tver Oblast. Among the ten victims were Yevgeny Prigozhin, Dmitry Utkin, and Valery Chekalov, the key figures of the Wagner Group. After the crash, Wagner's leadership structure became unclear.[2]
On 1 October 2023, the contents of Yevgeny Prigozhin's will became known, in which he bequeathed all property to his son, Pavel Prigozhin. Pavel Prigozhin became the sole heir to his father's business.[3][4]
According to the Institute for the Study of War, in early October, Pavel Prigozhin took command of the Wagner Group and was negotiating with the National Guard of Russia to have the group return to combat in Ukraine.[4][5] ISW said the alleged events surrounding Pavel Prigozhin indicate that "some Wagner employees are interested in rallying around a Prigozhin-linked alternative to the Kremlin and MoD-backed Andrei Troshev, even if that alternative is not an independent organization".[5] An ISW source connected to Wagner added that the group's fighters will not have to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense and that the mercenary group will retain its name, symbols, ideology and commanders under the leadership of Pavel Prigozhin.[5]
International sanctions
editOn 3 March 2022, the European Union introduced personal sanctions against Pavel Prigozhin.[6]
Personal life
editPavel Prigozhin is married to Yekaterina Inkina, the daughter of Sergey Inkin, a restaurateur and owner of a concert venue. The family lives in the elite village of Northern Versailles near Saint Petersburg.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f "Павел Пригожин — биография, личная жизнь, фото, новости, сын Евгения Пригожина, ЧВК «Вагнер» 2023". 24SMI. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ Foy, Henry; Seddon, Max; Ivanova, Polina; Schwartz, Felicia (2023-08-23). "Yevgeny Prigozhin in fatal plane crash, Russian officials say". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ "Глава ЧВК "Вагнер" Евгений Пригожин завещал почти все состояние сыну". Новости Татарстана и Казани - Татар-информ (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ a b "Wagner succession: Yevgeny Prigozhin's son 'set to be next mercenary boss'". The Independent. 2023-10-02. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ a b c Nanu, Maighna (2023-10-02). "Yevgeny Prigozhin's son 'takes over command of Wagner'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-10-03.
- ^ "Official Journal of the European Union". Archived from the original on 2022-06-03. Retrieved 2022-06-03.