Russian security, military justify nationalizing oligarchs' resources to sponsor Russia’s war - ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW)  reported this. 

It is noted that the head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, attended the funeral of his mercenary in St. Petersburg on December 24.  There he stated that Russia should nationalize the property of elites who ignore or do not support the war.

Wagner's financier added: wealthy people agree with the concept of dominance in the Russian Federation by “western curators” and compared the current oligarchy with Russia in the 90s.

“Prigozhin ignited a scandal regarding the burial of the Wagner serviceman in recent weeks to push his political objectives — such as the legalization of Wagner in Russia — and his statements advocating redistribution of wealth at the funeral gained significant traction on the Russian internet,” the report says. 

Vladimir Putin also partially "attacked" the Russian oligarchs: according to Putin, among the patriotic majority there are businessmen who do not share his sentiments. He also stated that Russians who withdraw Russian money from abroad and have no connection with the country “are a danger” for Russia.

Experts remind that the president of the Russian Federation himself "nationalized" big business in the early 2000s in order to strengthen his own authoritarian kleptocracy.

• Analysts have previously reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin is trying to increase his company's role in Russian military operations on the territory of Ukraine in order to establish himself as a central figure in Russia's ultra-nationalist community that supports the war.