Current:Home > NewsLeon Panetta on the fate of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin: "If you cross Putin, the likelihood is you're going to die"-InfoLens
Leon Panetta on the fate of Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin: "If you cross Putin, the likelihood is you're going to die"
View Date:2024-12-23 15:41:56
When the plane carrying Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin fell out of the sky Wednesday, no one doubted for a moment Russian President Vladimir Putin was behind it.
CIA director Bill Burns had predicted as much weeks ago. On July 20 he told the Aspen Security Forum, "Putin is the ultimate apostle of payback, so I would be surprised if Prigozhin escapes further retribution for this."
- Short-lived revolt by Wagner group head Yevgeny Prigozhin marks extraordinary challenge to Putin's hold on power
- Putin calls armed rebellion by Wagner mercenary group a betrayal, vows to defend Russia
When Prigozhin rode away a free man after leading a short-lived mutiny against the Russian military, Burns knew it was only a matter of time: "Putin is someone who generally thinks that revenge is a dish best served cold."
Putin runs Russia like the godfather of a crime family, littering the landscape with violent deaths, mystery illnesses, and dubious suicides – more than two dozen by U.S. count.
Alexander Litvinenko, a former Russian spy who had defected to England, died in 2006 after drinking tea poisoned with a radioactive substance called polonium. It took ten years for investigators to trace it to Russian intelligence agents.
In 2016 then-British home secretary Theresa May said, "The conclusion that the Russian state was probably involved in the murder of Mr.. Litvinenko is deeply disturbing.
May was prime minister when it happened again, in 2018. Another defector, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter were nearly killed by nerve agent while sitting on a park bench. Once again the trail led back to Moscow. "It is now clear that Mr. Skirpal and his daughter were poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia," May said.
Martin asked Leon Panetta, who was director of the CIA and secretary of defense in the Obama administration, "What does it take to get on Putin's hit list?"
"He's got a very low tolerance level," Panetta replied. "If you cross Putin, the likelihood is you're going to die. One way or another, he ultimately takes care of the problem, whether it's an open window or whether it's poisonings, or whether it's some kind of a gunshot in the middle of the night."
- Rights lawyer Stanislav Markelov, journalist Anastasia Baburova killed in Moscow
- Russian activist Natalya Estemirova found dead after kidnap
- The death of Yuri Shchekochikhin: Crime and (lack of) punishment
- D.C. police close probe into death of Putin critic Dan Rapoport (Washington Post)
- Russian media mogul Mikhail Lesin found dead in upscale D.C. hotel
One of Putin's most vocal critics, Alexei Navalny, is in prison now. But before that he nearly died after being poisoned by the same nerve agent Putin's spies had used in England.
- Alexei Navalny on the poisoning attack he survived and why he thinks Putin was behind it ("60 Minutes")
Martin asked if Putin cares whether the finger of suspicion points at him. Panetta replied, "In some ways I think deep down he takes pride in the fact that people know that he's going to get back at them."
"His idea of the perfect crime is one where you actually know who did it, you just can don't anything about it?"
"That's exactly right," Panetta said. "In his mind that basically makes clear – to Russia and to the world – that he is in total control of what goes on in Russia."
Editor's note: The video in this article has been updated to remove and replace misidentified crash footage.
For more info:
- Leon Panetta, chairman, Panetta Institute for Public Policy
Story produced by Mary Walsh. Editor: Chad Cardin.
See also:
- What are the prospects for pursuing Vladimir Putin for war crimes? ("Sunday Morning")
- Bill Browder on Putin, the Magnitsky Act, and unmasking Russian money laundering ("Sunday Morning")
- Protesters in Russia risk arrest to speak out against Putin's war ("Sunday Morning")
- How far will Putin go – and how far will America go to stop him? ("Sunday Morning")
- Wagner uprising "most significant threat" Putin has faced ("Sunday Morning")
- In:
- Yevgeny Prigozhin
- Russia
- Vladimir Putin
David Martin is CBS News' National Security Correspondent.
veryGood! (83827)
Related
- Round 2 in the Trump-vs-Mexico matchup looks ominous for Mexico
- Attorney says 120 accusers allege sexual misconduct against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
- Nicole Kidman's NSFW Movie Babygirl Is Giving 50 Shades of Grey—But With a Twist
- Kristin Cavallari Reveals Why She Broke Up With Mark Estes
- The Latin Grammys are almost here for a 25th anniversary celebration
- Kristin Cavallari explains split from 24-year-old boyfriend: 'One day he will thank me'
- Kristin Cavallari Shares Glimpse Inside New Home After Mark Estes Breakup
- California governor signs bill making insurance companies pay for IVF treatment
- How to protect your Social Security number from the Dark Web
- Fantasy football waiver wire: 10 players to add for NFL Week 5
Ranking
- Video shows Starlink satellite that resembled fireball breaking up over the Southwest: Watch
- RHONY's Brynn Whitfield Shares Baby Plans and Exact Motherhood Timeline
- Larry Laughlin, longtime AP bureau chief for northern New England, dies at 75
- Katy Perry wears zippered bag dress to Balenciaga's Paris Fashion Week show
- Alexandra Daddario Shares Candid Photo of Her Postpartum Body 6 Days After Giving Birth
- Maryland announces juvenile justice reforms and launch of commission
- Pennsylvania county manager sued over plans to end use of drop boxes for mail-in ballots
- Kentucky lawman steps down as sheriff of the county where he’s accused of killing a judge
Recommendation
-
American arrested in death of another American at luxury hotel in Ireland
-
Kristin Cavallari Says Custody Arrangement With Ex Jay Cutler Has Changed
-
Honda's history through the decades: Here's the 13 coolest models of all time
-
Jay Leno says 'things are good' 2 years after fire, motorcycle accident in update
-
Secret Service Agent Allegedly Took Ex to Barack Obama’s Beach House
-
Let All Naysayers Know: Jalen Milroe silences critics questioning quarterback ability
-
MLB playoffs: Who are the umpires for every AL and NL Wild Card series?
-
Sydney Sweeney's Expert Tips to Upgrade Your Guy's Grooming Routine