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==Restaurant career== |
==Restaurant career== |
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In 1990, after his release, he and his stepfather set up a network to sell hot dogs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2016/06/13/evgeny-prigozhin-s-right-to-be-forgotten|title=Evgeny Prigozhin's right to be forgotten: What does Vladimir Putin's favorite chef want to hide from the Internet?|work=Meduza|access-date=2018-02-16|language=en-EN}}</ref> Soon, according a ''New York Times'' interview with him, "the rubles were piling up faster than his mother could count them."<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/world/europe/prigozhin-russia-indictment-mueller.html|title=Meet Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian Oligarch Indicted in U.S. Election Interference|last=MacFarquhar|first=Neil|date=2018-02-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-16|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He also became the manager of and 15% stakeholder in "Contrast," started by Boris Spektr, a classmate from his boarding school, which was the first grocery store chain in Saint Petersburg. In 1995, when revenues began to fall, Prigozhin convinced a director at "Contrast," Kiril Ziminov, to open a restaurant with him. The two opened the "Old Customs House" ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Старая Таможня), which was one of the first elite restaurants in Saint Petersburg. In 1997, inspired by waterfront restaurants on the [[Seine]] in [[Paris]], Prigozhin and Ziminov spent $400,000 remodeling a rusting boat on the [[Vyatka River]] and started the floating restaurant "New Island," which became one of the most fashionable dining spots in Saint Petersburg.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> According to him, his patrons "wanted to see something new in their lives and were tired of just eating cutlets with vodka." In 2001, Prigozhin personally served food to [[Vladimir Putin]] and French president [[Jacques Chirac]] when they dined at "New Island", and to US President [[George W. Bush]] in 2002. In 2003, Putin celebrated his birthday at "New Island."<ref name=":1" /> By 2003, Prigozhin had left his business partners and established his own independent restaurants. The [[Anti-Corruption Foundation]] accused Prigozhin of corrupt business practices |
In 1990, after his release, he and his stepfather set up a network to sell hot dogs.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://meduza.io/en/feature/2016/06/13/evgeny-prigozhin-s-right-to-be-forgotten|title=Evgeny Prigozhin's right to be forgotten: What does Vladimir Putin's favorite chef want to hide from the Internet?|work=Meduza|access-date=2018-02-16|language=en-EN}}</ref> Soon, according a ''New York Times'' interview with him, "the rubles were piling up faster than his mother could count them."<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/16/world/europe/prigozhin-russia-indictment-mueller.html|title=Meet Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian Oligarch Indicted in U.S. Election Interference|last=MacFarquhar|first=Neil|date=2018-02-16|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-02-16|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He also became the manager of and 15% stakeholder in "Contrast," started by Boris Spektr, a classmate from his boarding school, which was the first grocery store chain in Saint Petersburg. In 1995, when revenues began to fall, Prigozhin convinced a director at "Contrast," Kiril Ziminov, to open a restaurant with him. The two opened the "Old Customs House" ([[Russian language|Russian]]: Старая Таможня), which was one of the first elite restaurants in Saint Petersburg. In 1997, inspired by waterfront restaurants on the [[Seine]] in [[Paris]], Prigozhin and Ziminov spent $400,000 remodeling a rusting boat on the [[Vyatka River]] and started the floating restaurant "New Island," which became one of the most fashionable dining spots in Saint Petersburg.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> According to him, his patrons "wanted to see something new in their lives and were tired of just eating cutlets with vodka." In 2001, Prigozhin personally served food to [[Vladimir Putin]] and French president [[Jacques Chirac]] when they dined at "New Island", and to US President [[George W. Bush]] in 2002. In 2003, Putin celebrated his birthday at "New Island."<ref name=":1" /> By 2003, Prigozhin had left his business partners and established his own independent restaurants. |
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==Corruption allegations== |
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The [[Anti-Corruption Foundation]] accused Prigozhin of corrupt business practices. They estimated his illegal wealth to be worth more than one billion rubles.<ref>[http://fbk.info/investigations/post/256/ Он повар Путина. Он тролль Путина. Он миллиардер. (He is the Putin's cook. He is the Putin's troll. He is a billionaire.)]</ref> |
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==Criminal charges== |
==Criminal charges== |
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{{Wikisource|Internet Research Agency Indictment}}On February 16, 2018, Prigozhin was indicted by a U.S. grand jury, which charged him with funding and organizing operations targeting the United States for the purpose of [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|interference with the U.S. political and electoral processes]], including the [[United States elections, 2016|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Indictment document|url=https://www.justice.gov/file/1035477/download|accessdate=16 February 2018}}</ref> |
{{Wikisource|Internet Research Agency Indictment}}On February 16, 2018, Prigozhin was indicted by a U.S. grand jury, which charged him with funding and organizing operations targeting the United States for the purpose of [[Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections|interference with the U.S. political and electoral processes]], including the [[United States elections, 2016|2016 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Indictment document|url=https://www.justice.gov/file/1035477/download|accessdate=16 February 2018}}</ref> |
Revision as of 03:31, 24 February 2018
Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin (Russian: Евгений Викторович Пригожин; born June 1, 1961) is a Russian businessman with ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.[1] Prigozhin was called "Putin’s chef" in an Associated Press article because of Prigozhin's restaurants and catering businesses that hosted dinners which Vladimir Putin attended with foreign dignitaries.[2]
Early life
Prigozhin was born in Leningrad, now called Saint Petersburg, on June 1, 1961. He graduated from an athletics boarding school in 1977 and was engaged in cross-country skiing.[3]
On November 29, 1979, Prigozhin was given a suspended sentence for stealing (in Leningrad). In 1981 he was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment under articles of robbery, fraud, and involving teenagers in prostitution. Prigozhin spent nine years in prison before he was released.[4]
Restaurant career
In 1990, after his release, he and his stepfather set up a network to sell hot dogs.[5] Soon, according a New York Times interview with him, "the rubles were piling up faster than his mother could count them."[6] He also became the manager of and 15% stakeholder in "Contrast," started by Boris Spektr, a classmate from his boarding school, which was the first grocery store chain in Saint Petersburg. In 1995, when revenues began to fall, Prigozhin convinced a director at "Contrast," Kiril Ziminov, to open a restaurant with him. The two opened the "Old Customs House" (Russian: Старая Таможня), which was one of the first elite restaurants in Saint Petersburg. In 1997, inspired by waterfront restaurants on the Seine in Paris, Prigozhin and Ziminov spent $400,000 remodeling a rusting boat on the Vyatka River and started the floating restaurant "New Island," which became one of the most fashionable dining spots in Saint Petersburg.[5][6] According to him, his patrons "wanted to see something new in their lives and were tired of just eating cutlets with vodka." In 2001, Prigozhin personally served food to Vladimir Putin and French president Jacques Chirac when they dined at "New Island", and to US President George W. Bush in 2002. In 2003, Putin celebrated his birthday at "New Island."[6] By 2003, Prigozhin had left his business partners and established his own independent restaurants.
Corruption allegations
The Anti-Corruption Foundation accused Prigozhin of corrupt business practices. They estimated his illegal wealth to be worth more than one billion rubles.[7]
Criminal charges
On February 16, 2018, Prigozhin was indicted by a U.S. grand jury, which charged him with funding and organizing operations targeting the United States for the purpose of interference with the U.S. political and electoral processes, including the 2016 presidential election.[8]
Business activities
Internet Research Agency
According to journalists' investigations, the office in Olgino was named as Internet Research Agency Ltd. (Russian: ООО «Агентство интернет-исследований»).[9] The company was founded in the summer of 2013.
Russian journalist Andrey Soshnikov reported that Alexey Soskovets, who had participated in Russian youth political community, was directly connected to the office in Olgino. His company, North-Western Service Agency, won 17 or 18 (according to different sources) contracts for organizing celebrations, forums and sport competitions for authorities of Saint Petersburg. The agency was the only participant in half of those bids. In the summer of 2013 the agency won a tender for providing freight services for participants of Seliger camp.[10]
Despite links to Alexei Soskovets, Nadejda Orlova, deputy head of the Committee for Youth Policy in Saint Petersburg, disputed connection between her institution and the trolling offices.
References
- ^ "Navalny asks FSB to investigate Putin's cook". Crime Russia. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
{{cite news}}
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(help) - ^ "Thousands of Russian private contractors fighting in Syria". AP News. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
- ^ ? Ilya Zhegulyov, "The Right to Oblivion," Meduza.June 9, 2016 (in Russian)
- ^ "Право на забвение Евгения Пригожина: Что хочет скрыть о себе ресторатор, обслуживавший президентов России — Meduza". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved 2017-10-25.
- ^ a b "Evgeny Prigozhin's right to be forgotten: What does Vladimir Putin's favorite chef want to hide from the Internet?". Meduza. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
- ^ a b c MacFarquhar, Neil (2018-02-16). "Meet Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian Oligarch Indicted in U.S. Election Interference". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2018-02-16.
- ^ Он повар Путина. Он тролль Путина. Он миллиардер. (He is the Putin's cook. He is the Putin's troll. He is a billionaire.)
- ^ "Indictment document". Retrieved 16 February 2018.
- ^ Andrew Soshnikov (2014-05-30). "Интернет-тролли из Ольгино заговорили на английском и украинском" [Internet trolls from Olgino start talking in English and Ukrainian]. Moy Rayon (in Russian). Retrieved 2016-06-12.
- ^ Andrew Soshnikov (2013-09-04). "Под Петербургом обнаружено логово троллей, которые клеймят Навального и хвалят русское кино" [Near St. Petersburg lies the lair of trolls that brand and praise Russian cinema]. Moy Rayon (in Russian). Retrieved 2016-06-12.