Join the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) for a live stream event on Russia's usage of private military companies. Russia frequently employs semi-state "private" military companies. We know that the Wagner Group, for example, has been used in Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, the Central African Republic, Libya, Mozambique and Mali (so far). Wagner is tightly connected to Russia's military intelligence organization (the GRU), and funded by one of Vladimir Putin's close associates, Yevgeny Prigozhin (who also uses it for private duties). So why does Wagner remain technically illegal (and even unconstitutional) in Russia? And what implications does the Wagner Group pattern have for the interests and future operations of the U.S. and its allies?  Questions such as these will be addressed in the talk.

Due to increased safety concerns regarding COVID-19, the program will be webcast live and will subsequently be available on-demand through CSIS's website.

Speakers:

Kimberly Marten, professor and chair, department of political science, Barnard College, Columbia University

Jeffrey Edmonds, research scientist, CNA

Jeffrey Mankoff, deputy director and senior fellow, Russia and Eurasia Program, CSIS