The Russian mercenary will have made only a brief public appearance. Engaged in the ranks of the private company Wagner, Marat Gabidoulline, 54, believed he could testify in a book. He must have been disillusioned. The publication of the work entitled We bathe twice in the same river was canceled. Probably by decision of the Kremlin. Before disappearing from the radar, the fighter, seeing himself starting to promote his book, nevertheless had time to answer questions from the Russian-speaking site Meduza, based in Latvia. The first interview with a Russian mercenary, published under his real name. Marat tells of his integration, his battles, his doubts and his anger.
It also breaks a taboo. And evokes the role of Evgueni Prigozhin, 59 years, the owner of Wagner, nicknamed the “chef of Vladimir Poutine” for having formerly provided the official meals of the Russian president. A businessman also at the head of a troll company and sanctioned by Washington after his interference in the American presidential campaign of 2016.
Marat Gabidoulline thus confirms the influence of Prigozhin at the helm of the militia. A fact still denied by the Russian authorities despite the growing presence of Wagner outside the borders: in Ukraine, Syria, Libya, the Central African Republic, Sudan, Mozambique, Madagascar. Prigozhin would have even encouraged Marat to continue writing his work.
Dirty image
No doubt he did not expect his employee to expose his moods. “Everyone knows our existence and we hide the truth from our own opinion. Is this normal? »Asks the mercenary. The career of Marat, a former soldier, began with Wagner in 2015. He was sent to Syria to participate in the recapture of oil wells held by the Islamic State. Newcomers are immediately informed of the dangers of their mission. “It can end very badly for you. The stakes are crucial for Prigozhin, who sees it as a future source of income. Marat takes part in the Battle of Palmyra and quickly becomes the leader of a reconnaissance unit. He was seriously injured in March 2016. Of course, he thanks Prigozhin for taking care of his care. But his bitterness is real. He is especially enraged against a man: Dmitri Outkine, a former military intelligence (GRU), the operational boss of the company of mercenaries to which he has given his nickname, “Wagner”. He accuses him of having tarnished the image of the group. How? ‘Or’ What ? By covering the actions of four members filmed in 2017, torturing to death a Syrian deserter then beheading and setting him on fire. “He was the one who asked them to do this to intimidate the other Syrian soldiers. He also ordered the video to be made, explains Marat. Everyone now thinks Wagner’s people are bloodthirsty demons, he continues. These four sadists must be brought to justice. According to Marat, Prigokhin himself would have recognized “excesses on the ground”.
Lack of armament
Another disappointment of the mercenary, the decline in the level of professionalism of Wagner. Today half of the recruits have never known fire. And their training is insufficient. As for the experienced fighters, they have only one idea in mind: to survive. “They no longer think about victory,” says Marat. “Utkin had a troop of gladiators, he now leads an army of slaves. The consequence would result in an increasing number of victims. Also involved is the lack of weapons, linked to the negligence of the command, which is reluctant to ask for money. Marat remembers an episode. In 2019, he is asked to send Syrian fighters to Libya. He obeys. Shortly after, he received a call from one of his colleagues, based there. “Can we use it as suicide bombers?” He asks. Marat falls from the clouds. “How can a normal person ask for such a thing? ”
The mercenary evokes the conquest of Palmyra, which he attributes more to Wagner’s men than to the regular Russian army. An army that pounded them in 2016 by mistake from the air. “Many of us died that day,” he says.
He also points to resentment among Russian generals, annoyed by their exploits. Marat sees this as one of the reasons why they have started to receive lower quality weapons.
In 2019, he joined the Russian air base in Hmeimim, near Latakia. He must take charge of the bodies of the killed belonging to Wagner. “It was impossible to prepare them with dignity and no one decorated them posthumously”, he regrets.
Besides his book, Marat envisioned the release of a film based on his story. He said he did not fear the consequences of his revelations. “It would be stupid to physically put pressure on me. »It was decided otherwise. Officially, Marat called his publisher to inform him that he was giving up publication of his work.
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