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Where's Prigozhin? [1]

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Date: 2023-06-25  

Has anyone seen or heard from him?

I've had an idea knocking around in my head all day, which I hope won't be interpreted as misinformation, disinformation, or the stuff of conspiracy theories. And the idea is that Prigozhin might never make it (or have never made it) to Belarus at all. Or at least, once he arrives, he might not get too far. I keep picturing those deceivingly nonchalant, friendly car rides (or boat rides or flights) and promises of vacations or job transfers with promotions you see in movies like "The Godfather."

"Will no one rid me of this troublesome Prig?"

I keep thinking the total forgiveness + exile to Belarus story may have simply been fabricated to remove Prigozhin from the spotlight, to take people's attention off him, in view of the fact that it seemed he was being received with a good deal of tolerance by the Russian military (simply waved through road blocks) and even support by Russian citizens. Once he has seemed to "disappear" into Belarus, no one, at least in Russia, will bother to ask about or look for him anymore, since he will no longer have anything to do with Russia and he will be forgotten, at least officially: a nonentity. And meanwhile Putin has donned a somewhat improbable -- and for him extremely unusual -- facade of benevolence and leniency.

On the other hand, if Putin hadn't reversed his threat of punishment, people would be continuously wondering, "Well, where is he? Why haven't you caught him and brought him to justice yet?" Not good for his all-powerful Supreme Commander image. And his usual window and tea solutions are usually reserved for unsuspecting victims who haven't been publicly denounced and threatened, so they can be passed off (albeit unconvincingly) as suicides or accidents. They wouldn't have been credible at all in Prigozhin's case, and might have riled up his supporters, leading to more trouble for Putin.

If, instead, he's been quietly disposed of with everyone believing he's simply been banished to Belarus, Putin -- even though the "deal" makes him look weak to observers -- starts off with a clean slate again as far as the problematic uppity ambitious blabbermouth Prigozhin is concerned.

Just a thought…

That said, I saw this in a CBS News article:

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/25/2177611/-Where-s-Prigozhen

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