Yevgeny Prigozhin. Early Life and Education

Yevgeny Viktorovich Prigozhin was born in Leningrad, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union, to Violetta Prigozhina, who raised him as a single mother.

At 18 years old, Prigozhin was caught stealing and given a suspended sentence of two years and six months in prison. He served his sentence working at a chemical plant in Veliky Novgorod.

Prigozhin returned to Leningrad and joined a gang, participating in a burglary spree before being caught for robbery, theft, fraud, and involving minors in criminal activity.

Prigozhin was sentenced to twelve years imprisonment in a high-security penal colony for his crimes.