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Mystery surrounds detention of Wagner Group operative in Chad
November 5, 2024
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HEADLINE: Mystery surrounds detention of Wagner Group operative in Chad
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BYLINE: Purity Mwambia
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((AFP Maxim Shugaley Interview WRAP))
A shadowy Russian political operator Maxim Shugaley, with close ties to the notorious Wagner Group and its late founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, is detained in Chad mid-September on unexplained charges.
((AFP WAGNER Military Group activity in CHAD WRAP))
Russian officials and state-controlled media maintain that Shugaley is an innocent sociologist who was in Chad to deliver humanitarian aid and participate in a pro-Russian event in the capital, N'Djamena.
But years of reporting on his exploits in countries as far-flung as Afghanistan and Libya present a picture of a master propagandist who has worked behind the scenes to advance the Kremlin's interests with some of the world's least reputable regimes.
((AFP FNZC building WRAP))
Shugaley, president of the St. Petersburg-based Foundation for National Values Protection, or FNZC, sanctioned by the U.S. and European Union, was arrested at N'Djamena's airport "without explanation," according to an account in the Russian news agency RIA Novosty.
((AFP WAGNER Military Group activity in CHAD WRAP))
However, the Russian daily Kommersant reported in October that Chadian military intelligence was behind Shugaley's arrest, and said he was accused of espionage and influence activities on behalf of the Wagner Group.
Kommersant said, the "sociologist's mission" in Chad was "strictly humanitarian." It added that a suitcase in his possession at the time of his arrest "was full of souvenirs and cookies to be handed over at the pro-Russian rally in N'Djamena."
Shugaley "had no knowledge of Wagner activities in N'Djamena," Kommersant reported. This despite his reputed role in directing communications and hybrid warfare activities by the Kremlin-financed mercenary, which according to the U.S. State Department plotted to overthrow the government of Chad last year.
The European Union sanctioned Shugaley in February 2023 for operating "as the public relations arm" of the Wagner Group.
Shugaley's role "includes directing propaganda and disinformation campaigns in favor of the Wagner Group, particularly to improve the reputation of Wagner and support its deployment, as well as interfering in a covert manner on behalf of the Wagner group in the various countries where the group is active," the EU said.
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