Photo: Frame from video
The press service of the company “Concord” published the response of business owner Yevgeny Prigozhin to a request from journalists related to a video that appeared on social networks about the alleged recruitment of convicts into the ranks of a private military company for possibly participating in events in Ukraine. Earlier, Concord did not confirm that Prigozhin himself was captured on the specified video – only that it wasa “monstrously similar” person with the same “well-delivered speech”. A repeated request on this topic came with a different wording: the journalists did not ask to confirm whether Prigozhin was filmed in a correctional colony and whether any recruitment into any PMCs was being conducted, but asked him to express his personal opinion whether the involvement of convicts could be useful for a special operation.
Prigozhin stated that he was responding as an “amateur expert” and that “a group of unknown persons, who, naturally for all of us, are not there, are perfectly fighting in the Bakhmut direction.” According to him, these people, “who are not there,” fight well because they are patriots, and also have a lot of experience in hot spots and “they have a well-established management system”, which is led by “not the most outstanding personalities, but also not complete idiots (otherwise used in the commentary, obscene word – MK)”.
The latter, according to Prigozhin, “do not use Chanel perfumes and do not dissect in Nappa leather cars,” but “climb basements and trenches,” therefore they can keep the situation under control.
As for the expediency of attracting convicts to the ranks of the above-mentioned professionals, Prigozhin replied that, if he were a prisoner himself, he would dream of “joining this friendly team” in order to pay off the debt to the motherland.
“Those who do not want PMCs to fight, send their children to the front,” Prigozhin said. – Either PMCs and prisoners, or your children – decide for yourself.”