Political observer Dosym Satpayev argues that we need to study the global mercenary experience, because Prigozhin and Wagnerites are not the only private military companies in the world and in history. There are and were others.

Literal translation below:

“Prigozhin’s usage of his own PMC as a weapon in the internal conflict of the Russian elites once again drew the attention to the PMC phenomenon – something that was in place long before Wagner. 

Global Leaders

Experts report that the USA, UK and Israel were traditional leaders in the global PMC market, the value of which totals some USD 100 billion. Those are Academi» (ex-Blackwater) and DynCorp of the USA, G4S, the former Group 4 Securicor of the UK, a company operating in 125 countries and ICTS International and Mikud of Israel.  In 2004, there were the first reports about Chinese PMCs operating in various countries, inclusive of Shandong Huawei Security Group, Alfa-Angel (Beijing Co) and Beijing General Security Service.

For a long time, many PMCs operated in the grey zone. They guarded strategic objects, trained local armies and shared their military expertise. Besides, they took part in armed confrontations, thus becoming pure mercenaries.

Put Mercenaries Under Control

There were several attempts to bring PMCs under control and within the limits of the international legislation. In 1989, UN adopted the International Convention Against Recruitment, Use, Financing the Training of Mercenaries. In 2008, the so-called Montreux Document on Private Military and Security Companies was adopted, and, in 2010, — the International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers.

The Montreux Document stipulates that PMCs are private entrepreneurial subjects that provide military and-or security services, regardless of how they characterize themselves. Military and security services are inclusive of armed safeguarding and protection of individuals and facilities, such as transportation convoys, buildings and other places, as well as technical maintenance and operation of military and combat complexes, guarding of prisoners and consulting and training of local servicemen and security guards.

The problem about all above stipulations is that they sheer recommendations. Also, it is a problem to regulate the activities of PMCs – many of them are connected with official military structures and bodies, as well as security services. Official structures and services often resort to PMCs for accomplishment of various military operations, that require anonymity and lack of connection to particular countries, that have interests in various combat zones.

PMC Risks

For many countries, PMC pose risks. Today, there are no guarantees that a PMC with the authorization to possess combat weaponry and machinery, as well as hire was professionals, will not become a Fifth Column or a group of subversives acting for interests of other countries. Hypothetically, “men without insignia” may emerge in any country, under the aegis of fight against terrorism, or protection from mythical or real external aggression, as well as to guard particular individuals and facilities.

The notorious Prigozhin, while unwinding his informational attacks on the Russian Ministry of Defense, prior to the march on Moscow, declared that many big Russian companies had their own PMCs fighting in Ukraine.

Mercenaries Are Capable of Many Things

Eventually, the Prigozhin incident demonstrated to the Russian elites (those not willing to immigrate and ready to fight for power), that several thousand armed professionals constitute a competitive advantage in the course of internal elite rivalry. Al Capone said that words and pistols help achieve more things, than kind words only. Many things will depend on the quantity of such pistols, on who takes a shot first and on what chain reaction the said shot will trigger all over a country. All above is meant to conclude, that Kazakhstan, a country that has the longest border-line with Russia must prepare to all sorts of negative scenarios involving Russia with its nuclear weapons, as there always is the treat of the “export of chaos”.