A key Vladimir Putin ally has admitted that Russia is interfering in US elections and said that they “will continue to interfere”.
On Monday, Russian businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin revealed that he had interfered in American elections – the first admission from someone blamed by the US for attempting to influence US politics.
“We have interfered (in US elections), we are interfering, and we will continue to interfere. Carefully, accurately, surgically and in our own way, as we know how to do,” Mr Prigozhin said, according to comments posted by the press department of his catering company Concord.
The statement was released on VKontakte, Russia’s version of Facebook, according to Reuters.
The comments were shared the day before the US midterm elections as a response to a Russian news site requesting comment.
“During our pinpoint operations, we will remove both kidneys and the liver at once,” he said, without commenting further.
Mr Prigozhin has been called “Putin’s chef” as his catering company receives contracts from the Kremlin.
He has been accused of funding “troll farms” in Russia that attempt to influence US domestic politics.
The US State Department offered a reward of as much as $10m for information concerning Mr Prigozhin regarding “engagement in US election interference”.
The businessman has been sanctioned by the EU, the UK, and the US.
As the war in Ukraine has progressed, Mr Prigozhin has become more and more outspoken. He has criticised Russian generals for their poor performance, according to Reuters.
In September, the 61-year-old said that he was the founder of the Wagner Group of mercenaries that has a presence in Syria, Lybia, Mali, the Central African Republic, and Ukraine. The group opened a defence technology centre in St Petersburg last Friday.
Analysts believe that the announcement may be a hint that Mr Prigozhin is eyeing a political role, according to the AFP.
The Wagner group is suspected of having been deployed in attempts to reach the Kremlin’s goals abroad. The Kremlin has rejected any notion of a connection to the group.
The mercenary group has been accused of committing abuses as well as seizing state power.
