Prigozhin demands a criminal case against "Meduza" journalists for inquiring about Wagner Group's participation in the war against Ukraine

russian oligarch Evgeniy Prigozhin asked the head of the Investigative Committee to open a criminal case against Meduza journalists due to the media outlet's inquiry about the role of the "Wagner" private military company in russia's war against Ukraine.

This is reported by Meduza.

The request was signed by "Meduza" editorial director Tatiana Ershova, with the media outlet's special correspondent Lilia Yapparova listed as the contact for communication.

Prigozhin asks to open a case against Ershova and Yapparova under the articles on spreading "fakes" about the russian army (Article 207.3 of the Criminal Code) and treason (Article 275 of the Criminal Code).

He believes that the questions addressed to him already imply that the Wagner PMC is directly involved in russia's war against Ukraine and that one of the questions asked by Meduza "actually alleges that the Wagner PMC's recruitment infrastructure is controlled by the Ministry of Defense of the russian federation."

On July 13, "Meduza" published Lilia Yapparova's investigation about russian mercenaries in the war in Ukraine. It says that the fighters of the "Wagner" PMC, whose supposed owner is Prigozhin, went to Ukraine in late March after the enrollment campaign organized by the russian Ministry of Defense.

It will be recalled that Evgeniy Prigozhin is associated with the founding of the St. Petersburg "Internet Research Agency," better known as the "troll factory." The employees of the "troll factory" were writing social media posts in support of the kremlin for a financial reward, and also carried out attacks on independent mass media and opposition bloggers.

In 2018, the United States charged Prigozhin and 12 "Internet Research Agency" employees with meddling in the election of the President of the United States. Moscow has repeatedly denied any influence on the Americans' choice. In February 2018, the Columbia District Court (USA) issued a warrant for Prigozhin's arrest. In the summer of 2020, the FBI declared Prigozhin a wanted man, and in February 2021, they promised a reward of USD 250,000 for information that would facilitate his arrest.