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Confrontation between Prigozhin and Girkin may benefit Putin – ISW
KYIV. Jan 27 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests that the conflict between the financier of the Wagner Private Military Campaign Yevgeny Prigozhin and ex-leader of fighters Igor Girkin is a new area of competition for political influence in Russia, which may benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Prigozhin’s attack on Girkin may benefit Putin, however. Prigozhin is very prominent in the Russian information space,” the report reads.
According to analysts, Prigozhin may have tried to undermine Girkin’s position in order to gain influence in the nationalist space, simultaneously, but not necessarily intentionally, discrediting one of Putin’s most prominent critics.
Western analysts believe that Prigozhin and Girkin are probably also competing for influence and patronage among pro-war politicians who are disappointed with the course of the war.
This confrontation, analysts say, exposes a new sphere of competition between Russian nationalist groups for political influence in Russia.
The Institute admits that Prigozhin is probably trying to maximize his influence to avoid the fate of Girkin, whom the Kremlin removed from office after his fighters retreated from Sloviansk, as well as after his involvement in the crash of Malaysian Boeing flight 17 in July 2014.
