The business of the former head of the private military company Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in a plane crash in the Central African Republic, is managed by the head of the House of Russia in the Central African Republic, American Dmitry Sytyy. He writes newspaper. Wall Street Magazine Citing “more than a dozen” sources from PMC fighters and Prigozhin’s associates.
According to the publication, Sytyi has been managing Wagner companies in Africa for the past five years. In particular, it controls a “network of shell companies” that the PMC allegedly uses “to export gold, diamonds, timber and other raw materials” from its base in the Central African Republic.
Additionally, according to WSJ sources, the speaker of the Russian Parliament controls the media financed by Wagner. The newspaper does not specify which media outlets discussed it. The Patriot media group owned by Prigozhin, which includes RIA FAN, ceased operations in June 2023 following a rebellion by a private military company.
“The Fed finds itself at the center of an escalating war over the fate of Wagner’s sprawling, multibillion-dollar African empire of mercenaries, gold, lumber and diamonds,” the story says.
At the same time, the WSJ notes that it is not known how long the speaker of the Russian House of Representatives will retain his influence, since he “has no connections with the Kremlin” and his closeness to the former chairman of the PMC. Loyalty among the new leaders of the group”.
Syty did not respond to the publication’s request. Russian officials did not make any comments regarding the publication of the newspaper.
What is known about Dmitry Sytyi
The Russian cultural center “Russian House” in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, was opened on February 1, 2022, and Syty was appointed its director. At the same time, according to WSJ, Wagner together with PMC representatives arrived in the republic in 2017 at the invitation of President Faustin-Archange Touadera.
Sytyy himself in an interview with the publication “Pravda.ru” He said that he initially worked as a translator in the CAR and was included in the initiative group for peace talks with the leaders of armed groups at the beginning of 2018.
A few months after arriving in the country, Syty registered Lobaye Invest, Wagner’s first company to receive permits to mine gold and diamonds, according to the WSJ.
An assassination attempt was made on Sytogo on December 16, 2022; After an unnamed package exploded, he was taken to Bangui hospital, then taken to Moscow for treatment. CAR’s Ambassador to Moscow, Leon Dodonu-Punagaza, accused France of participating in the assassination attempt. The head of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Catherine Colonna, rejected the accusations.
In April this year, Syty returned to work in Bangui. Commenting on what happened in his meeting with Pravda.ru, Erdogan said that he received threats, including threats against his son’s life.
“They demanded that Wagner leave the country and that the Russians submit to the French,” the speaker of the Russian Parliament said.
According to the WSJ, Syty last saw Prigozhin a few days before the plane crash: They attended an event together at the House of Russia in the Central African Republic. “We need to continue working and not lose courage. I hope everything stays the same,” he said about Russia’s prospects in Africa after the PMC chairman’s business jet crashed in the Tver region.
well fed sanctions USA due to suspicions of connection with Prigozhin.
Prigozhin’s legacy
At the beginning of September 2023, a lawsuit was opened regarding the inheritance of Yevgeny Prigozhin. RTVI referring to the federal register. Case, St. It is handled by notary Anatoly Akulenko from the St. Petersburg Notary Chamber.
By Telegram channel VChK-OGPUA conflict arose within the businessman’s family over inheritance, since according to the will of Yevgeny Prigozhin all assets should go to his son Pavel.
“All the business, all the companies, all the property went to Pavel, except for a few items left to his daughters. He declared himself the successor of Yevgeny Prigozhin in all matters,” the source of the channel said.
Also in September, the publication “Vestk”, blocked in Russia, citing data from the source “Kontur.Focus”, stated that Vladimir Zlenko is the new owner of the Velada company, which has been producing oil in Syria since 2020. In the interests of Yevgeny Prigozhin.” According to media reports, he was a police officer until 2021 and served in St. He was receiving a salary from the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the Primorsky region of St. Petersburg.
According to the newspaper Finance TimesPrigozhin’s profits in the four years before the start of the military operation in Ukraine amounted to $ 250 million, despite the sanctions. The publication’s material refers only to revenues from companies producing oil, gas, diamonds and gold, without taking into account the profits of domestic Russian enterprises.
Source: Gazeta
Ben Stock is a business analyst and writer for “Social Bites”. He offers insightful articles on the latest business news and developments, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the business world.