Iosif Prigozhin denies the authenticity of the audio recording of a conversation with billionaire Akhmedov criticizing the authorities

Music producer Iosif Prigozhin called the audio recording of a dialogue with billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov published online, in which the interlocutors criticize the Russian authorities and the conduct of hostilities in Ukraine, fake.

“Fake audio recording with supposedly my voice and a conversation with one influential person. I want to say that today’s technologies, neural networks, allow you to fake not only a voice, but also a conversation. You know, the Internet has turned into a big garbage dump, where there is something useful and you can devalue any person, ”said Iosif Prigogine in video message.

Later in an interview “Fontanka” Iosif Prigozhin admitted that “some moments are real in the conversation,” and the voice is similar to his. He confirmed that he knew Farhad Akhmedov and last spoke to him in January. “Maybe there were some phrases from which they edited this one,” he said. Mr. Prigozhin insists that he does not remember the conversation that got into the network.

The published conversation lasts 35 minutes. In a conversation, a person with the voice of Farhad Akhmedov asks the question: “Why did you start?” – referring to the decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to start hostilities in Ukraine. Presumably Iosif Prigozhin says that “if he (Vladimir Putin. — ”b”) presses the button”, then “the whole nation has no future in this scenario”.

The recording of the conversation appeared in early March. Ukrainian media drew attention to her a few days ago. Who and when intercepted this dialogue is unknown. Ukrainian Channel 5 claims that the conversation took place in early 2023. During the conversation, a person with the voice of Farhad Akhmedov, including using obscene language, complains about the sanctions imposed against him. The businessman fell under the sanctions of the UK and the European Union. On the recording, you can hear him advising Iosif Prigozhin to sell real estate in London in order to avoid losses due to possible sanctions.

The appearance of the audio recording on the network was commented on by the founder of PMC Wagner Evgeny Prigozhin. “It is possible that those people who carried out this “special operation” and who posted this conversation could think that I was talking,” Mr. Prigogine said, recording the answer published his press office.

Lusine Balasyan