Evgeny Zubarev, director of the "RIA FAN" site affiliated with Yevgeny Prigozhin's media group, announced that "the group will cease operations," highlighting the declining situation of the Wagner private military group leader after a failed short rebellion by his fighters.
In a video posted late Saturday on the group's social media accounts, Zubarev praised the Patriot Media group, stating it "defended Prigozhin and Putin against criticism from Kremlin opponents such as imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny." He added, "Patriot Media worked against Alexei Navalny and other opposition representatives who tried their best to destroy our country."
Under an agreement that led to the end of the rebellion, Russia allowed Prigozhin, a former ally of President Vladimir Putin, to live in exile in Belarus, providing his men with options to join him, merge into the Russian armed forces, or return home.
The Patriot Media group, which prominently featured the news site RIA FAN, had a strongly nationalist editorial policy in favor of the Kremlin while also providing positive coverage of Prigozhin and his Wagner group.
On Friday, the Russian newspaper "Kommersant" reported that "Russia's communications watchdog blocked media linked to Prigozhin, but did not elaborate on the details." Russian media also reported that "Moscow dissolved an influence group active on social media that Prigozhin allegedly used to sway public opinion in foreign countries including the United States."
