An audio recording of an alleged phone conversation between Russian music producer Joseph Prigozhin and billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov has rocked Russia after the pair criticized Putin. Prigogine admitted that some parts of the recording were authentic, but said that others were forged and that there was a “symbiosis” between his words and the computer’s speech. Fontanka.ru.

As “Ukrainian Pravda” reported, Meduza reported that the recording of the conversation, which probably took place between Yosyp Prigozhin and Farkhad Akhmedov, was published on YouTube on March 7, but began to be widely distributed by Russian media only on March 24. Akhmedov did not comment on the recording, and Prigozhin initially called it a “fake”, but later admitted its partial veracity.

In the recording, the two men discuss the possibility that the Kremlin’s military and security forces want to blame Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu for Russia’s military failures in Ukraine.

Independent news platform Important Stories, which now operates outside of Russia, said on Monday it believed the leaked recording was genuine, citing an FSB source.

Both voices can be heard discussing the displeasure of some of Putin’s closest associates, including Rosneft chief Igor Sechin, Rostec chief Sergei Chemezov and National Guard chief Viktor Zolotov, with the Russian military, including Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, noting that Putin’s associates formed a coalition to overthrow Shoigu.

• “There is no doubt that they destroyed the country,” a man whose voice is very similar to Prigozhin can be heard on the recording.

The same man also calls Putin’s inner circle “derberdei” who behave as if they are “gods”.

• “Him [Putin] he doesn’t care about anything. And he doesn’t care about people. He is Satan. A coward,” Akhmedov allegedly said about Putin.
• “He fucked us all. Everyone and everything. The whole country. The whole population, to hell with it.”
• Prigozhin agrees and says: “To be honest, of course, they are all criminals.”
• Farkhad Akhmedov would also say that “the president will bear all the responsibility” and “he will be brought to justice.”

• Prigozhin is also skeptical of Russian propaganda claims that Russia is at war with the West, saying the Kremlin “lost Quarter 95.” [emisiunea de comedie a președintelui Zelenski înainte de a fi ales președintele Ucrainei – ed.].

The Guardian noted that it was not possible to independently verify the authenticity of the clip.

On Sunday, Prigozhin called the recording a “provocation” designed to “create a split” in the Russian elites. Although he initially called the recording a “fake”, Prigozhin later said the clip contained “some real moments” of his conversation with Akhmedov.

If authenticated, the record provides a rare insight into the state of mind of Russian elites, many of whom privately spoke out against the war.

Akhmedov, a former Russian senator, has been sanctioned by the West because of his closeness to the Kremlin regime, while Prigozhin (no relation to Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin) is considered a Kremlin supporter.

Joseph Prigozhin and his wife, pop singer Valeria, publicly supported Vladimir Putin and even campaigned for him in the 2018 elections.

Farkhad Akhmedov, a Russian billionaire of Azerbaijani origin, made his fortune in the Siberian gas industry in the 1990s and was a senator from 2004 to 2009. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU and Great Britain imposed sanctions against Akhmedov. Now lives in Baku.

Sources The Guardian, Ukranian Pravda and Moscow Times

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