Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has captured news headlines in recent weeks with his expletive-laden rants against Russia's Defense Ministry and the country's political leadership. This has fueled ongoing speculation that he may be eyeing a career in politics, and even run against Vladimir Putin in next year's presidential elections.
But how well-liked is Prigozhin among Russians? And do they even know who he is? We asked people on the streets of Moscow what they think of the mercenary chief.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
![](["https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/_J_8GnLTf0E\/maxresdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/_J_8GnLTf0E\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/_J_8GnLTf0E\/default.jpg","https:\/\/static.themoscowtimes.com\/img\/article_video.jpg"])
![](["https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/VdQtNgi3C8k\/maxresdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/VdQtNgi3C8k\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/VdQtNgi3C8k\/default.jpg","https:\/\/static.themoscowtimes.com\/img\/article_video.jpg"])
![](["https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/zdKtDhh8dBQ\/maxresdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/zdKtDhh8dBQ\/hqdefault.jpg","https:\/\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/zdKtDhh8dBQ\/default.jpg","https:\/\/static.themoscowtimes.com\/img\/article_video.jpg"])