Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin admits to meddling in US elections

Monday, Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, a close supporter of President Vladimir Putin and a key actor in the Ukraine conflict, admitted categorically to intervening in U.S. elections.

"Gentlemen, we interfered, we are interfering, and we will interfere," Prigozhin vowed in a statement published by Concord. Washington has sanctioned the oligarch for operating a "troll factory" to influence the outcome of elections in the United States and internationally.

In response to a Russian news outlet's request for comment on the specifics of the influence, Prigozhin joked, "Accurately, precisely, surgically, and the way we do it, the way we know how to."

Prigozhin is the financial backer of a so-called "troll farm" in Russia, formerly known as the Internet Research Agency. The organization, whose name has been altered numerous times, builds and uses fake social media accounts to disseminate false information and heated rhetoric to influence voters and stir strife. At least Russia, China, and Iran are believed to have organizations with the similar goal.

The United States Treasury Department accused Prigozhin and the Internet Research Agency of meddling with the presidential election of 2016 and the midterm elections of 2018. In his investigation into Russian election interference, U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller frequently cited the group.

In July, the State Department announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the arrest of Prigozhin for "interference in U.S. elections."

Prigozhin's admission occurred on the brink of this week's crucial midterm elections, which will shape the remainder of President Joe Biden's term. It was the first time a person who had been legally accused by Washington of attempting to influence American politics made such an acknowledgment.

Chris Krebs, the former director of the U.S. government's cybersecurity organization, stated on Sunday to CBS's "Face the Nation" anchor Margaret Brennan, "we've heard reports of Russia, China, and Iran up to their old tricks" in reference to internet intervention activities.

Krebs stated that two U.S. research firms had revealed material indicating that Russian Internet Research Agency-affiliated trolls "are back at it and are hurting Democratic Senate candidates" in this week's midterm elections.

Combined with Elon Musk's turbulent takeover of Twitter, Krebs predicted that it would "create a very volatile environment" for the democratic process in the United States.

Multiple times, the Kremlin has denied ever attempting to influence elections in the United States or any other nation. Vladimir Putin criticized Robert Mueller's 2018 indictment of 13 Russians accused of conspiring to interfere in the presidential election that elected Donald Trump.

In reference to Prigozhin, the Russian leader remarked at the time, "How low the Western information and political climate has sunk"

The businessman is sometimes referred to as "Putin's chef" since he won substantial catering contracts from the Russian government.

The tycoon has maintained a low profile for many years, but recently Prigozhin has become a more prominent figure as the mercenaries from his Wagner Group have become a significant component in Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Prigozhin denied sponsoring the Wagner Group for many years, but in September 2014 he admitted to funding the pseudo-military firm. Since then, the private Wagner army has assisted the Kremlin in advancing its geopolitical and commercial aims in wars ranging from Syria to Africa to Ukraine.