Wagner Leader Prigozhin’s Will Exposed

On October 1, 2023, according to Wagner Telegram group reports, a case concerning the dispute over the family assets of Wagner PMC leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has been filed in a St. Petersburg court, stating that the internal conflict within the Prigozhin family might escalate into a long-lasting feud.

Prigozhin’s Will

Subsequently, Prigozhin’s will was revealed. According to the documents, on March 2, 2023, Prigozhin drafted and notarized a will, in which all his assets would be inherited by his 25-year-old son, Pavel Prigozhin, upon his death. However, Prigozhin’s daughter, wife, and mother would receive nothing. Yet, there’s no need to worry for his wife as Prigozhin had already transferred some assets to her before sanctions were imposed.

According to the terms of the will, although Pavel Prigozhin inherits all the assets, it is on the condition that he ensures a “decent living” for Prigozhin’s wife, daughter, and mother, Violetta Prigozhnaya.

(Prigozhin with his wife and eldest daughter)

Reasons for Family Conflict Insiders claim that the internal conflict within the Prigozhin family has begun and may escalate into a protracted struggle. Since Prigozhin’s son has received almost everything, while his daughters have received almost nothing.

(Prigozhin with son Pavel)

All the businesses, all the companies, and all the assets, except for a few items left for the daughters, belong to Pavel. Pavel also declared himself as the sole heir of Yevgeny Prigozhin. However, other family members of Prigozhin believe that Pavel Prigozhin is too young, easily influenced by certain individuals, making him incapable of independently managing these assets.

(Prigozhin’s younger daughter Veronica Prigozhin)

They claim that Pavel Prigozhin is currently serving in the Wagner troops and is influenced by the newly appointed head of Wagner PMC’s security department, Mikhail Vatnin. Therefore, they want to reclaim some inheritance rights to the assets.

Wagner’s Follow-Up

Following the death of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, over 6000 Wagner mercenaries in Belarus have signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, some going to the Eastern Front in Ukraine, and some to Africa. Currently, only about 500 Wagner mercenaries remain in Belarus. On September 28, 2023, Russian President Putin ordered Prigozhin’s former assistant Troshov to form a “volunteer force”. The Kremlin stated in a declaration that Putin told Troshov that his task is to focus on forming a “volunteer force” to participate in special military operations in Ukraine.