True Story of the “Mutiny” Begins to Emerge

June 29, 2023 | Categories: Articles & Columns | Tags: |  Print This Article

Update: June 30, 2023

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, belatedly realizing the damage done to Putin by his mischaracterization of the alleged “mutiny” as an armed rebellion that threatened the Russian nation, has tried to rectify the situation by declaring the “mutiny” as nothing more than a “tussle.”  https://sputnikglobe.com/20230630/lavrov-on-mutiny-attempt-a-mere-tussle-and-nothing-more-1111569134.html 

True Story of the “Mutiny” Begins to Emerge

Paul Craig Roberts

Both US and Russian media have set in stone the false narrative of “Prigozhin’s mutiny.”  By publicly agreeing, Putin has validated the neoconservatives’ propaganda that he is weak and tottering and that the US can win in Ukraine if the US acts more forcibly. 

Nevertheless, the real story is coming out bit by bit.  Prigozhin’s protest march was directed at Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov who were forcing Prigozhin to turn the Wagner Group over to the Russian military command by July 1. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230629/prigozhin-was-informed-that-wagner-would-not-receive-funding-without-contracts-with-mod—lawmaker-1111544635.html 

 Prigozhin, like some Russian generals and much of the Russian public, has no confidence in Shoigu and Gerasimov.  His “march on Moscow” was an effort to get Putin’s attention.

Putin, misinformed by Prigozhin’s enemies, panicked and bought the coup narrative, thus undermining his own position.  This will lead to more provocations of Russia and their spread into the former Central Asian provinces of the Russian Empire.

There are reports, which might be false, that General Gerasimov has disappeared from view.  Unless Putin has lost his marbles, he must see it as a disastrous decision for the military brass to give an ultimatum to Russia’s main fighting force in the Ukraine conflict during a Ukrainian “counteroffensive.”  A stupid media speaks of “Prigozhin’s ambitions,” instead of the ambitions of Shoigu and Gerasimov to take over the Wagner Group.

I will continue to try to report on the “mutiny,” but I doubt to little effect. The “mutiny” narrative serves the neoconservatives war policy, and the presstitutes will not abandon it.

Putin was hurt not so much by the alleged “mutiny” as by his response to it.