Russian President Vladimir Putin recently encountered what appears to be the first significant coup attempt during his lengthy tenure of more than 23 years.
On June 24, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, orchestrated a rebellion by withdrawing his fighters from Ukraine and marching towards Moscow with the aim of overthrowing military heads.
However, the insurrection swiftly came to an end, leading to a warning from a former CIA director.
Following the failed coup, retired US Army General and former CIA director, David Petraeus, spoke on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
During the interview with host Dana Bash, Petraeus mentioned that Prigozhin managed to escape with his life but lost control over the Wagner Group.
Petraeus further hinted at potential danger for Prigozhin by advising him to be cautious near open windows in his new location in Belarus, suggesting that Putin might attempt to have him assassinated.
Ret. Gen. David Petraeus tells CNN’s Dana Bash that Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin “lost his nerve” in Russia after his revolt “didn’t appear to be generating the kind of support that he had hoped it would.”https://t.co/4FFF7GZFCj— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) June 25, 2023
Petraeus speculated that Prigozhin may have lost confidence when he failed to garner the anticipated support for his rebellion.
The Wagner chief had attempted to rally people by criticizing Putin’s military involvement in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
However, when the convoy was approximately two hours away from Moscow, Prigozhin abruptly announced the return of his mercenaries to their positions in the war, effectively ending the uprising.
Subsequent reports disclosed that an agreement had been reached between Prigozhin and Putin, granting amnesty to all participants. As part of the deal, Prigozhin agreed to live in exile in Belarus going forward.
The warnings of potential assassination should not be taken lightly. Putin’s regime has faced repeated accusations of eliminating dissidents.
In 2021, the European Court of Human Rights concluded that the Kremlin was responsible for the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006, leading to his death.
Litvinenko, a former Russian intelligence official who had defected, was targeted. The Putin regime is also accused of poisoning opposition leader Alexei Navalny and subsequently imprisoning him when the poisoning attempt failed.
Considering these circumstances, it would be prudent for Prigozhin to heed Petraeus’ cautionary words and exercise caution by staying away from windows. The potential risks associated with opposing the Putin regime have been demonstrated through various incidents, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
