Meet Pavel Prigozhin: The Heir of a Russian Oligarch and a Mercenary Leader
Who is Pavel Prigozhin? – Pavel Prigozhin is a 25-year-old Russian entrepreneur, CEO, and oligarch heir.
He is the youngest and only son of Yevgeny Prigozhin, a famous businessman with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Defense Ministry, and the founder of the mercenary military group Wagner.
He is also the grandson of Violetta Prigozhina, a renowned Soviet actress and singer. He has a sister named Polina Prigozhina, who is 30 years old and reportedly owns a luxury hotel in St. Petersburg.
What does Pavel Prigozhin do?
Pavel Prigozhin did not finish his school education in Leningrad. He dropped out and started working as a cook, following his father’s footsteps.
He later enrolled in the Leningrad Chemical and Pharmaceutical Institute to get a pharmaceutical degree, but he failed to complete his studies.
He has no formal military training, but he has allegedly fought for the Wagner Group, a private military company founded by his father, in Syria and eastern Ukraine.
He has also learned some business skills from his father, who mentored him and made him the CEO of Concord Management and Consulting, a company that has been involved in various businesses, including catering, construction, media, and internet research.
| Name | Pavel Evgenyevich Prigozhin |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | June 18, 1998 |
| Place of Birth | Leningrad, Russia |
| Nationality | Russian |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur, CEO |
| Education | Dropped out of school and college |
| Family | Yevgeny Prigozhin (father), Lyubov Prigozhina (mother), Polina Prigozhina (sister) |
| Affiliations | Concord Management and Consulting, Russian House, Wagner Group |
Pavel Prigozhin is the CEO of Concord Management and Consulting. This company was founded by his father in 1995 and has been involved in various businesses, including catering, construction, media, and internet research.
He is also the founder and owner of Russian House, a cultural center in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic (CAR), where he promotes Russian interests and investments in Africa.
He has been accused of being involved in his father’s activities with the Wagner Group, which has deployed mercenaries in several countries, including Ukraine, Syria, Libya, Sudan, and CAR. He has allegedly fought for Wagner in both Syria and eastern Ukraine.
What is Pavel Prigozhin’s relationship with his father?
Pavel Prigozhin considers his father as his biggest inspiration and mentor. He consults him in case of any decision-making challenges. He is quite a lucky man and a proud son.
He has expressed his support for his father’s actions and views, especially regarding the war in Ukraine. He criticized the Russian Defense Ministry for corruption and incompetence and praised his father for leading a rebellion against them in June 2023.
He has also defended his father from the accusations of interfering in the 2016 and 2018 US elections, saying they were baseless and politically motivated.
Who is Pavel Prigozhin’s mother?
Her name is Lyubov Valentinovna Prigozhina and she is a pharmacist by profession. She is married to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner Group and a close associate of Vladimir Putin. She has two children, Polina and Pavel, who are both involved in their father’s businesses.
Lyubov Prigozhina was targeted by the European Union for sanctions in February 2023, due to her association with her son and his companies, such as Concord Management and Consulting LLC. However, she won a court appeal against her inclusion on the sanctions list in March 2023, arguing that she had no direct involvement in compromising the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
Lyubov Prigozhina also owns several companies that were previously owned by her mother, Violetta Prigozhina, a famous Soviet actress and singer. These include Beta LLC, Turstatus, Lakhta Park Premium LLC, Lakhta Park LLC, and Lakhta Plaza LLC. She has reportedly transferred some of these companies to her son Pavel in recent years.
How did Pavel Prigozhin react to his father’s reported death?
Pavel Prigozhin has not yet publicly commented on his father’s reported death in a plane crash on August 23, 2023. The plane was allegedly shot down by Russian forces as an act of revenge for his father’s mutiny.
According to some sources, Pavel Prigozhin was not on the plane with his father but was in CAR at the time of the crash. However, this has not been confirmed by official authorities.
It is unclear what will happen to Pavel Prigozhin’s businesses and assets after his father’s death. Some analysts suggest that he may face legal troubles or sanctions from the Russian government or other countries.
