Progozhin Media Group Will Close After Wagner Group Insurgency

Russian President Vladimir Putin with Yevgeny Prigozhin. (Wikimedia Commons/Government of the Russian Federation)

JAKARTA - The parent media group controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin will close, said one of its outlets directors, highlighting the poor fate of the chief mercenaries a week after the half-hearted uprising by the Wagner Group soldiers.

Under the agreement to stop the uprising, Prigozhin, a former ally of President Vladimir Putin, was allowed to flee into exile in Belarus. Meanwhile, his men were given the option to join him, integrated into the Russian armed forces or return home.

Patriot Media, under Prigozhin with its main outlet, news site RIA FAN, has a very nationalist pro-Kremlin editorial policy, as well as providing positive coverage of Prigozhin and his Wagner Group.

"I announce our decision to close and leave the state information room," said RIA director FAN Yevgeny Zubarev in a video clip posted on the social media accounts of the parent media group.

However, Zubarev did not give further reasons regarding the decision taken.

Meanwhile, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported on Friday that state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor had blocked media linked to Prigozhin, without elaborating. Roskomnadzor could not be reached on Sunday for comment.

Russian media also reported that "the troll factory" allegedly used by Prigozhin to influence public opinion abroad, including the United States, had been dissolved.

In his video upload, Zubarev praised Patriot Media's record, saying they had defended Prigozhin and Putin from anti-Kremlin opposition attacks, including imprisoned critic Putin Alexei Navalny.

The Patriot Group has been working "against Alexei Navalny and other opposition representatives who are really trying to destroy our country", he said.

Despite the failed uprising, Russian authorities have not officially banned the Wagner Group. However, President Putin said on Tuesday last week that the finances of catering company Prigozhin would be investigated.

He said the Wagner Group and its founders had received nearly $2 billion from Russia last year.

Wagner fighters have carried out some of the bloodiest fighting of the ongoing 16-month war in Ukraine.

Under the leadership of Prigozhin, the group has grown into a vast international business with mining interests and fighters in Africa and the Middle East.