Wagner Chief On Board Plane That Crashed Near Moscow

The question was serious.
Especially now, when Russia could influence Niger with Wagner troops, should Putin have Wagner's entire leadership executed? This is completely illogical. Or what do you think?
M.

 

Lots of things are illogical when politics and war are involved....

 

And invading Ukraine was logical?
Look, Putin is an ex-KGB officer that has aspirations of turning Russia back into the USSR. Part of that is the leader is a narcissistic sociopath.

I think you are trying to apply Western politics to Russia, which simply doesn't fly. There literally doesn't have to be a reason other than he made Putin look bad. I mean, it's not the first time Putiin has assassinated someone because they got to be critical of the Army, which in Putin's mind means him, since it's his Army.

 

A funny comment after it happened was "The real question is will he attend his own funeral"

 

1) Russia has been funding the Wagner Group. Yes, there were other sources, but Russia was the main source of funds.
2) The Ukraine invasion has cost Russia much more than anticipated. Prime interest is 20%, there are capital movement restrictions, and a growing foreign currency dependency.
3) The Wagner Group has shown it's not afraid to bite the hand that feeds it.
4) Using mercenaries of questionable loyalty when you can't pay them is a bad idea.
5) Any challenge to an autocrat MUST be severely and swiftly dealt with. Any other action invites further challenges.

 

Can you share where the 20% Prime interest figure comes from?

 

With all due respect, analyzing Wagner through a western lens supports the points you made definitely.

Unfortunately, a western lens doesn't apply.

The framework that Wagner follows is that of the relationship between the Russian State and the Russian Mafia.

In a nutshell, the entity is free to operate as it wishes and to keep the majority of its spoils gained outside of Russia as long as it does the States bidding when called upon. The State provides differing degrees of support and protects its actors as best as it can for example escaping back to Russia where they are generally untouchable to outsiders.

If they fail to comply pressure will be escalated including unsafe environments for friends and even family.

It's not a matter of Russia can't pay mercenaries with questionable loyalty because that's not the way the system works.

And it's due to this structure that we have constant turmoil in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, North Africa etc.

The West has its own structure. People can argue the morals of either all day.

 

My apologies, the 20% was from Apr 22 when they were trying to stop the bank run, it's currently 12%
Russia Interest Rate - 2023 Data - 2003-2022 Historical - 2024 Forecast - Calendar

 

It's not that they can't pay mercenaries with questionable loyalties. It's two different statements. Russia can't afford to pay mercenaries for foreign action. Wagner has questionable loyalty. Putting the two statements together means trying to use Wagner for operations is a bad idea, whilst decapitating Wagner is a 'good idea'.

 

Russia has a demonstrated well functioning system for funding "mercenaries" internationally wether they're described using western terms like Mafia or private military.

What makes you think Russia can't afford to pay at this point?

Wagner the brand has questionable loyalty in western eyes and it's only fair to base conclusions on what's been presented.

Unfortunately the entities that distribute the information are not reliable enough to draw conclusions from.

So once again, your thought process is understood but your thought process doesn't understand the reality so it has a high chance of being wrong.