In the cutthroat world of Russian politics, one characteristic can be particularly beneficial: The willingness to cut throats.
Nothing illustrates this better than the following story about Yevgeniy Prigozhin. The story comes from Ilya Barabanov and Denis Korotkov’s excellent book, Nash biznes – smert (Our business is death):
In the early 2010s – before he had ventured into the world of PMCs and set up the Wagner group that brought him global notoriety – Prigozhin was busy building up his business empire. His Concord catering company was winning major government contracts, supplying food to schools and the military.
But in St Petersburg, Concord faced a new competitor, Caramel Catering, set up by an estranged business partner. And Caramel started winning big contracts, including a flagship event Prigozhin coveted: The 2012 St Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Prigozhin was furious. But the solution he adopted was as ruthless as it was creative. On 15 June 2012, Prigozhin organised a launch event for a new (and entirely fake) business journal. He invited leading political and business figures to attend the launch event. And he hired Caramel to provide the catering.
Then, he poisoned the guests.
Nothing too serious, mind: No one died, although the descriptions of the event sound…let’s say unpleasant. But it was enough to tank the reputation of Caramel Catering and cost it the Economic Forum contract. Which Concord was, of course, ready to step in and take over.
For me, this story is the perfect illustration of why Yevgeniy Prigozhin attained the fame and fortune that he did. He was only ever a second-tier member of the Russian elite. But he aspired to join the top tier, and his efforts eventually brought him national and international notoriety.
In building his PMC empire, Prigozhin spotted opportunities and deployed considerable creativity and cunning. He had connections and knew how to take advantage of them. His second-tier status arguably forced him to take risks that no one in the top tier would need to. Jack Margolin, in his excellent book on Wagner, sees his ability to use complex corporate structures as a key characteristic (one of the few points from the book that I strongly disagree with).
These are all relevant factors influencing Prigozhin’s rise. Yet I think it was his pure ruthlessness and lack of any moral constraints that truly set him apart. Other members of the Russian elite arguably have highly distorted moral frameworks, but I still think most of them have some – something that informs, directs, and constrains the actions they take. Prigozhin, to me was marked by his willingness to do absolutely anything required to get ahead.
Of course, getting ahead is only the first part of the challenge. Staying there is quite another – and, in this, Prigozhin palpably failed. I have a theory about that, too, which I’ll share shortly – because I think it carries lessons for how we think about other members of the system.
But perhaps you disagree, and see another reason why Prigozhin was so successful? If so, hit reply and let me know!