Yevgeny Prigozhin

, the founder of the Russian military group "Wagner Group",

is trying to raise his level of political influence in the Russian Federation.

This was the conclusion reached by analysts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in their report dated January 5.

The publication pointed out that Prigozhin publicly announced the amnesty of Russian prisoners who spent half a year in Ukraine as part of the "Wagner group".

At the same time, the businessman does not have the necessary powers for this procedure.

According to Russian legislation, only the president of the Russian Federation has the right to pardon prisoners.

Regional clemency commissions or private individuals can appeal to the head of state with a petition regarding a particular prisoner.

"It is possible that Prigozhin submitted a request for pardon of the former prisoners on their behalf. It is also possible that Prigozhin claims that the former prisoners received amnesty, while in fact the Russian court could grant them "release from punishment", - they believe in ISW.

Experts claim that Yevgeny Prigozhin is trying to show the public that he has enough influence in Russia to announce an amnesty to the Wagnerites.

It is assumed that the businessman expects to raise his authority among the Russian audience.

A public pardon of the fighters of the "Wagner group" may be shown by Prigozhin on the eve of the recruitment of new prisoners.

According to the Russian mass media, about 500 former prisoners of Wagner died in Ukraine in 2 months.

Earlier it became known that

Prigozhin

released the first batch of convicts who "worked out the contract" by fighting against Ukraine for half a year.

In the meantime, the Russian mass media recognized some of the executives who were released by Prigozhin.

Most of them are residents of St. Petersburg or the Leningrad region.

According to the ISW of January 3, Wagner will try to make the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation guilty for the military failures of his fighters in the Bakhmut area.

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