Yevgeny Prigojine, founder of the Wagner Group, admits “interference” in the American elections

The head of the Wagner militia Yevgeny Prigozhin (right), alongside Vladimir Putin in 2011. AP - Misha Japaridze

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Quoted in a publication of his company Concord, Evguéni Prigojine, the founder of the paramilitary group Wagner, admitted on Monday to "interference" in the American elections.

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On the eve of the midterm elections in the United States, businessman and

founder of the Wagner Group

, Yevgeny Prigojine, admitted to "

interference

" in previous American elections.

“ 

We interfered, we do and we will continue to do so.

Carefully, precisely, surgically, in a way that is unique to us

 ,” Prigojine was quoted in a social media post from his company Concord.

Under US and European sanctions, Mr. Prigojine has been accused for several years of interference, notably during the 2016 US presidential election. For example, he is suspected of being at the origin of a "troll farm" , false profiles on social networks multiplying publications to influence voters by denigrating candidates or by relaying false information.

► To read also: Russia: who is Evgueni Prigojine of the Wagner group sanctioned by the European Court of Justice?

The businessman, previously accustomed to discretion,  has recently

come out of the shadows

 .

At the end of September, he admitted having founded the paramilitary group Wagner in 2014 to fight in Ukraine.

He also admitted the presence of Russian mercenaries in several countries,

notably in Africa,

the Middle East and Latin America.

In early November, the group also inaugurated a 

brand new building

that will serve as the administrative center for the mercenary company.

And since the start of the war in Ukraine, he has asserted himself more and more as a public figure in Russia and has multiplied his statements in support of Russia and its offensive.

► To read also: Evguéni Prigojine comes out of the shadows: "There are several hypotheses to this"

(With AFP)

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