One Week after the Mutiny, Moscow TV Says Prigrozhin’s Victories in Ukraine a Myth, Russians Say. In Another, It will Deny Putin Ever Heard of Him

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 1 – There are many things that don’t work quickly and efficiently in Russia today. But one can’t say that about Moscow TV. Only a week after the mutiny, it is saying that any talk about Prigorzhin’s victories in Ukraine is a myth; and a week more, it will declare that Putin doesn’t know who he is or ever did.

            That is just one of the anecdotes Russians are now telling each other about recent events that have been collected by Moscow journalist Tatyana Pushkaryova (publizist.ru/blogs/107374/46189/-). Among the best of the rest are the following:

·       Now it can be revealed: the Wagner rising was paid for by the West with money from the Russian budget.

·       Some in the Duma want Russians to call the events in Ukraine a new patriotic war. They are too late: many Russians now call it the Great Patriotic War of the Ukrainian People against the fascist invaders.

·       When officials say they’ll find the money for this or that project, one has the sense that they are rummaging through their pockets.

·       Polls show 30 percent of Russians back Wagner, 55 percent are against, and 15 percent are undecided. That means, 30 percent can be imprisoned for “discrediting the Russian army,” 55 percent for “discrediting the PMCs, and 15 percent for doing both.

·       Keep strong, Russians are telling each other: Temporary difficulties will soon come to an end, and permanent ones will replace them.