The end of Russia or a chance for change?

Prigozhin's uprising through the eyes of pro-Kremlin leaders and opposition

On the evening of June 23, Yevgeny Prigozhin accused the Ministry of Defense of a missile attack on the positions of the Wagner PMC, and then began an armed rebellion. Rostov-on-Don is already under the control of mercenaries, columns of PMC equipment are moving through the Voronezh and Lipetsk regions. Kholod tells how opposition politicians and political scientists, as well as pro-military officials, propagandists and "military correspondents" reacted to Prigozhin's campaign.

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Reactions of the anti-war public: anxiety, confusion, gloating, support for Prigozhin

Anticipation of a civil war among the opposition leaders side by side with sarcastic jokes about the Ministry of Defense and the President. While some believe that it is impossible to support any of the parties in the conflict, some call for the support of Prigozhin.

Politician Mikhail Khodorkovsky :

Prigozhin is not a friend of democracy - he is a bandit, but now he is like a knife at the time of the operation to excise the malignant Kremlin tumor that has been tormenting the country for more than 20 years. More than likely, tomorrow we will have to take up arms against Prigozhin. But today we must help by stopping those who try to oppose him. Stop by word and deed. Way to the knife!

Khodorkovsky later clarified : “Prigozhin is not our friend and not even an ally ( as in the text - approx. “Cold” ). He is a bandit and a war criminal. But his rebellion is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and there won't be another like it for a long time."

Director of the Anti-Corruption Foundation Ivan Zhdanov :

It is very good that the system of Putin's power is going to hell. It is very bad that we are on the verge of a real civil war. We are not satisfied with Putin. The fact that he is now losing control is very good.

And the bandits in power will definitely not be able to hold out for a long time.

The best thing the military can do now is stop fighting, go home and defend your home. And from Putin, and from bandits. The most correct thing that people can do now is to boycott any work, especially government organizations and enterprises.

Comrade-in-arms of Alexei Navalny Lyubov Sobol :

Extinguish Putin. Right now. Hand him over to The Hague, where he will be dealt with humanly. Siloviki, FSB, Investigative Committee, Prosecutor's Office. All! Do not follow criminal orders. Sabotage! Strike! Eggs! Prigogine now has titanium eggs. And you find your own, at least not from the crumb.

Politician Garry Kasparov :

Don't think what will happen if Russia collapses. She's already collapsed! Many years ago. This is not a state, but a bunch of mafia groups that fight each other for money, resources and power.

Employee of the Anti-Corruption Foundation Leonid Volkov :

The Kremlin's "strategists" are accustomed to fighting peacefully in protest, calling anyone extremists and terrorists. The more clearly visible is their obvious panic and helplessness when faced with real problems. Cheer for both sides!

Politician Lev Shlosberg :

This is not a march to overthrow Putin, this is a march for Prigozhin's place in politics, which he demands from Putin. The highest risks for society lie in the real possibility of a situation of chaos and fear of imposing martial law throughout the country. And in a situation of martial law, we can also talk about power.

Political scientist Ekaterina Shulman :

In the meantime, it seems that few people are interested in fighting Ukraine, it is much more interesting to deal with each other. In general, what is happening clearly exposes the popular myth that the more autocracy and centralization, the more order. The association of autocracy and stability is the most false one ever.

Businessman Oleg Tinkov :

Putin's cook brewed cabbage soup. Well, this is the beginning, soon Ukraine will also serve him dessert. Poor St. Petersburg bandit. Eat.

Libertarian Mikhail Svetov :

Do not make hasty decisions and do not act rashly. But get ready for anything. Historic events are taking place."

The head of the Anti-Corruption Foundation, Maria Pevchikh, and politician Mikhail Lobanov, at the time of writing this material, did not speak out on social networks.

Pro-war Public Reactions: Frustration, Anger, Threats, Civil War Preparations

Opinion among pro-war opinion leaders was also divided. Propagandists and pro-government “military correspondents” call for stopping the “civil strife” and punishing the “traitor” Prigozhin. "Angry patriots" are convinced that a civil war is inevitable, and are already ready to join the struggle for power: for this they are allegedly developing a "step-by-step plan for further actions."

Dmitry Medvedev :

Now the most important thing for defeating the external and internal enemy, who is hungry to tear our Motherland, to save our state, is to rally around the President, the Supreme Commander of the country's armed forces. Split and betrayal - the path to the greatest tragedy, a universal catastrophe. We won't allow it. The enemy will be defeated! Victory will be ours!.

Vladimir Solovyov :

25 thousand people would be very useful at the front. A march [of justice] is necessary - to Lvov, to Kyiv, and, if necessary, even further. But the Kornilov rebellion? Mussolini's march on Rome? What are we talking about? We are Russian people, we love our homeland. Are we going to let the civil strife lose the country now?

The propagandist signed his video message with a quote from the Bible: “Every kingdom, if it is torn apart by strife, will become empty, and any city or house where there is strife will not stand.”

Patriarch Kirill :

Lifting up prayers for a peaceful resolution of the current situation as the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, I urge those who, having taken up arms in their hands, are ready to direct them against their brethren, to think again. In the face of a common threat, one must maintain unity of mind, overcome grievances and personal ambitions. No matter how difficult it may sometimes be.

"Voenkor" Semyon Pegov (WarGonzo) :

Whatever personal desperation drove the rebels to take this radical step, the consequences create risks previously unknown in the course of the NWO and indeed in modern history in general. A stab in the back remains a stab in the back, no matter what the reason served as an impulse for this. Well, if you consider yourself first and foremost a soldier, then the direct order of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief is the only thing that does not require discussion at the moment when the enemy’s counteroffensive is underway.

Igor Strelkov (Girkin) :

I can object to the statements that “coups are not made this way”: this is exactly how the fascist coup was done in Italy in 1922. Benito Mussolini led first thousands, and then tens of thousands of "black shirts" to Rome. No one resisted, the putschists were welcomed by the population. And the king ceded real power to him ... Will Prigozhin succeed in something like that? I strongly doubt it. The Duce was neither a criminal nor a maniac. He was a REAL (not fake) war hero and he was young. "The best in hell" did not strive to be .... And in general he was much smarter. But the crisis has just begun. Let's look at the situation. "Where it's thin, it breaks there." And we have been "subtly" for a very long time ... Any even the slightest "political shaking" is now very dangerous for us.

Chairman of the "Angry Patriots Club" Pavel Gubarev :

Putin's Russia will cease to exist in the coming days. We did not particularly love this state, it was always hostile to the Russians. Nobody will protect him. Those who are ready to defend him have neither weapons nor resources. We will act according to the circumstances, we are no strangers. National duty, military honor and a clear conscience will give us the right guide. The Russian people are great, and Russia is eternal. God bless us!