'Putin's chef' urges FBI to remove his name from wanted list of criminals

Kremlin-linked businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin has urged the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to remove his name from the list of wanted criminals, alleging it to be a human rights principles violation.

Usually called "Putin's chef", Prigozhin's company catered for the Kremlin. He is wanted by the FBI "for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to defraud the United States". 

Global Summit LIVE: If we don't change our ways, crises won't end — Ian Goldin

Prigozhin was indicted by the US three years ago for allegedly meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.

He has now written to the FBI calling it to be a violation of human rights under international law. "The FBI must immediately cease offering a monetary award to the public for my capture and delivery to the United States as this violates several principles of human rights under international law," he wrote.

His company, Concord, has taken to a social media platform, Vkontakte, on Wednesday, and reported that the company has written to the FBI chief Christopher Wray on March 23 regarding this matter.

Also read | Putin gets Covid vaccine; Kremlin refuses to share details

Concord has also claimed that Prigozhinrgeted unf is being taairly. "Fraudsters are fraudulently trying to accuse me, a squeaky clean person, of fraud," the company said in a statement.

He has also been named for allegedly funding the  Internet Research Agency, a so-called troll farm in Saint Petersburg reported to have waged an online campaign in support of then-candidate Donald Trump in the 2016 US election.

The Kremlin aide has been linked to Wagner private military group, which allegedly sent mercenaries to conflicts in Africa and the Middle East.