Prigoshin has been extremely careful in past statements to avoid criticizing Putin directly. He has put the blame on underlings making military decisions. This

Prigoshin has been extremely careful in past statements to avoid criticizing Putin directly. He has put the blame on underlings making military decisions. This leaves him latitude to craft a narrative that preserves his ability to come to terms with Putin loyalists at the same time that he shoves Putin aside (lethaly or otherwise) or relegates Putin to the role of a mouthpiece with a gun to his head. Putin can be cast in the mold of a Great Man betrayed by his closest allies as Prigozhin rushed in to help, and even with great reluctance (/s) takes the reigns of power after the purge.