Prigozhin's life before Wagner: "Putin's cook" used to write children's books

Prigozhin apparently wrote children's books in his time before Wagner. © Elena Kopylova/imago

Details about Prigozhin's past reveal a new side of the Wagner boss: in his earlier years, he apparently devoted himself to children's literature.

Moscow – Little is known about Yevgeny Prigozhin's personal life. In the Ukraine war, he is considered the merciless boss of the Wagner Group, who is only interested in expanding his power. Details about his past reveal that the head of the mercenary squad is a multifaceted person. Before his life as Wagner's boss, Prigozhin is said to have been an author of children's books.

Prigozhin's life before Wagner: Putin's cook wrote children's books with son and daughter

Almost 20 years ago, Prigozhin wrote a playful children's story, according to a report in the Moscow Times. Under the title "Indraguzik", the book tells the story of a young boy and his sister who live with their family in a huge theatrical chandelier. Officially, the authors of "Indraguzik" are the two children of Prigozhin, Polina and Pavel. However, in the preface to the book, of which only 2,000 copies were printed, it is stated that the story was written in collaboration with Prigozhin, his son and daughter. "Indraguzik" is said to have been published in 2004 by the little-known publishing house Agat.

The story itself, according to the Moscow Times, takes place in a country of "little people" living among ordinary people. The plot revolves around the boy Indraguzik, who falls from a theatrical chandelier and tries to find his way home. According to the preface to the book, Polina and Pavel suggested the names for the main characters and persuaded their father to "invent a story about a little boy named Indraguzik and his sister Indraguza."

Notorious Wagner boss Prigozhin was probably an early author of children's books: "Versatile person"

Especially against the backdrop of the brutal warfare of the Wagner Group, Prigozhin's connection to children's literature seems strange. When asked about the gap between the children's book author and the warlord, Moscow psychologist Karina Militonyan told the Moscow Times that a man is able to "combine all kinds of characters."

Russian political expert Konstantin Kalachev, who was familiar with "Indraguzik", called the work a "beautiful" story. He described Prigozhin as someone who evolved with the zeitgeist in Russia, going from convict to children's book author, friend of the president and mercenary chief. "He is like a mirror of the times," Kalachev said. "He is a versatile person who strives for self-realization within the bounds of what is possible. As long as it was fashionable to be good, he was good. But then the time of evil came, and he became evil," Kalachev said.

Wagner boss Prigozhin's past: From Putin's cook to Kremlin opponent

Priogshin has had a turbulent past. He initially served nine years in prison after being arrested in 1981 for robbery and other offenses. After his release, Prigozhin then found his way directly to Vladimir Putin as a caterer and restaurant owner, so he is said to own, among other things, the only private restaurant in the building of the Russian parliament and is hired by the Kremlin for banquets and events.

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His closeness to the Russian president gave rise to this nickname "Putin's cook". He also received orders from the state with his catering company "Concord" and, for example, supplied schools with food, reports the Tagesschau, among others. But now there are growing signs that Prigozhin's public criticism could make it harder and harder for the Kremlin to respond to him. (bohy)