Is Yevgeny Prigozhin a revolutionary?

When Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in Washington in January 2021, it was undoubtedly a historic moment in the United States. However, at that time, this significant event was not interpreted as a revolutionary attempt. Even after two and a half years have passed since the incident, no one has associated the disruption of the Capitol with a revolution. Of course, it is premature to determine whether this event will have a lasting impact on US politics and social affairs. Nevertheless, for outsiders like myself, the vivid images of that carnival-like scene remain etched in memory. I acknowledge that this perspective may be somewhat superficial, but it is evident that we cannot label these events as a revolutionary endeavor. The "incident" took place within the boundaries of "legitimate" factions within the US. Perhaps certain consequences that we cannot foresee today will gradually emerge over time. However, it should not go unnoticed that the US deep state responded harshly to Trump supporters, according to their own measures. From this standpoint, it is crucial to reconsider the concept of the modern state in both the East and the West. Of course, such comparisons should transcend the dichotomy of democracy versus totalitarian regimes. It is beneficial to break free from fixed ideas.

During this period, we should also mention the events that unfolded in France. However, we cannot consider the actions of the Yellow Vests as a revolutionary endeavor either. They were not driven by revolutionary ideals while causing turmoil in Paris for an extended period. Perhaps as a result, no one took much interest in what was happening in France. In the early days of the incidents, the events in Paris dominated the global media's agenda, but that was due to the intensity of the participation.

When Yevgeny Prigozhin marched towards Moscow, the world's attention swiftly turned towards Russia. Suddenly, everything was in chaos, and those who were intrigued by the situation asked what was really happening. Those familiar with Russian history since the events of December 1825 know that this country has a propensity for revolutions. Violent incidents have occurred during these revolutions, which have deeply affected Russian Turks as well. Therefore, it is entirely natural for the entire Turkic world to show an interest in these events when Prigozhin embarked on his journey to Moscow. However, it was evident that Yevgeny Prigozhin was not involved in a revolutionary endeavor. Nevertheless, there is no harm in evaluating each of these three events in different contexts. We must recognize that no one is untouchable.

Yevgeny Prigozhin's march towards Moscow cannot be considered a revolutionary endeavor, but the events unfolding in Russia naturally concern not only Türkiye but the entire Turkic world and, of course, the Balkans. The vast expanse of the geography stretching from the Balkans to the eastern part of East Turkistan is intimidating in itself. Perhaps influenced by these factors, President Erdogan held a meeting with Russian President Putin even before the direction of the events became clear, and the following statement was made:

"The recent developments in Russia were discussed during the meeting. President Erdogan emphasized the importance of acting with prudence. It was stressed that no one should draw conclusions from the events in Russia. In this context, President Erdogan stated that Türkiye is ready to do its part to resolve the situation calmly and smoothly as soon as possible."

The statement regarding President Erdogan's meeting with Putin highlighted the emphasis on acting with prudence, refraining from drawing conclusions from the events in Russia, resolving the situation calmly and smoothly, and Türkiye's readiness to do its part. These prominent statements cannot be overlooked, as they reflect the confidence gained from overcoming numerous challenges in the past decade. However, it is not clear who or which circles are referred to by the term "no one" in the text. For example, the question of what kind of connection exists between "no one" and "Türkiye's readiness to do its part" remains unanswered. Therefore, although Yevgeny Prigozhin's march towards Moscow may not be seen as a revolutionary endeavor, the statements made indicate a significant event with a high impact capacity.

We must acknowledge that we are experiencing a much more dynamic process compared to the past. It is thought-provoking that the events occurring in the East, both within our country and in general, are much more intriguing.