The Kremlin is uneasy. Putin's loyal cook Prigozhin, who previously operated the so-called “troll factory”, is actively promoting the interests of his private military company “Wagner” and clearly seeks recognition as not only a friend of the national leader, but also as a commander, and just a “courageous man”.
It's crucial for Prigogine to succeed, because most of his businesses suffered when his companies, Concord Management and Consulting and Concord Catering, were hit by sanctions. Also on the list was the Internet Research Agency, which is accused in the United States of interfering in the presidential election. This company is also linked to Prigogine.
A lot is known about the recent years of the St. Petersburg entrepreneur's activities – in addition to the Wagner private military company and the “troll factory”, the media has reported on the supply of food to the capital’s schools, government contracts, and involvement in politics. But the early years of the man nicknamed the “Kremlin restaurateur” are shrouded in mystery.
However, there are snippets of information about how young St. Petersburg native Zhenya Prigozhin got started. This story includes theft, burglary, an attack on a young girl, and drinking with a minor. It's being published for the first time – including documents and eyewitness accounts.
The start of a remarkable journey
In 1980, Prigozhin arrived in Leningrad, where he met local resident Alexei Bushman. He only completed 10 years of schooling and had never worked anywhere. But by age 21, Lesha had already married, had a child, gained a criminal record, and divorced his girlfriend. “In general, he was seriously troubled,” said a person familiar with the story.
Bushman and Prigozhin were joined by three others – previously convicted Valentina Makeko from the Bryansk region, as well as two minors from Chelyabinsk, Vladislav K. and Alexander E. (their names are not in the media due to their age at the time of the crimes). Overall, it was an interesting group.
It all began in February 1980. Bushman and Prigozhin broke into an apartment in one of the buildings on Maklin Avenue (now Angliysky Prospekt) and stole 177 rubles' worth of citizen Osipov's belongings. This was slightly more than the average monthly salary at that time. The thieves' loot included a vase, a candy bowl, a napkin holder, 6 glasses, 6 wine glasses, 6 tumblers, and 2 horns.
On March 1, the intoxicated Prigogine acted alone. At night, he broke a window in an apartment on Ropshinsky Street, where the Telitsin family lived. A local resident thwarted the theft by spotting the young man leaning on the first-floor windowsill – the woman made a noise, and Prigozhin was forced to retreat. However, he didn't give up. The next night, Zhenya enlisted Lesha Butman for help. The burglars were successful – they stole an Orbita tape recorder, a radio with an Orbita player, crystal, a denim jacket, a women’s handbag with cosmetics, and even carpet runners. The total value was 980 rubles. Interestingly, the Telitsyns moved out of the poor apartment a few years later. Residents said they had been living there since the 90s.
Fraud was added to numerous thefts later. On March 20, 1980, Prigozhin, Bushman and Makeko offered to buy jeans and other scarce goods from a local resident named Kovalenko. The latter was not even scared away by the cost of smuggling – 250 rubles. But fashionable things he could not see. The attackers received 250 rubles from the victim, while Prigozhin took him to fetch things. But at one point, the now successful businessman hid from Kovalenko through the entrance yard, after which he left by car.
Gang-watering can of the Soviet spill
Luck continued to leave the entire company. The events of the evening of March 20, 1980 became the finale of her story. Prigozhin, Bushman, Makeko and underage Vlad K. noted a successful “jeans” scam in the Ocean restaurant, which was located on Matros Zheleznyak Street. We drank cognac and drank champagne.
“Prigozhin offered to rob this girl. As later established – the Queen, ”the case file says.
“On the street, Makeko and Prigozhin caught up with her and asked her to smoke. She wanted to get cigarettes, but Prigogine suddenly grabbed her by the neck and began to choke her. She screamed for help, but Prigozhin began to tighten his throat. From squeezing her throat, she lost consciousness, and when she woke up, she saw that her boots and earrings had been removed, ”the case file says.
Bushman told the investigator the following:
“Prigozhin grabbed the Queen by the neck and dragged her out of the street. On the lawn, Prigozhin knocked down the Queen. I ran up and started taking off her boots. Didn’t take off the earrings. Prigogine could have done it.”
Apparently, the teenager did not open his mouth for a long time and handed over his accomplices. Yevgeny Prigozhin decided to take over the fraud committed earlier. Say, he alone deceived the Telitsins, stealing their money and planning the whole scheme. But the court did not believe him.
So the thieves’ fate patted the daring bald cook. The 90s are in the distant past, crime is on his heels, and in the current realities, he also has to sit on the suction of the security forces – the Ministry of Defense, the FSB, and so on.
