Nobody can say that he lacks range. He was once a convict, hot-dog seller, Kremlin caterer, troll farmerSomeone who organises an institutionalised group of internet trolls that seeks to sway public opinion on political issues and destabilise democracy., entrepreneur, oligarchAfter the collapse of the Soviet Union, most of the country's economy fell into the hands of corrupt businessmen who became known as oligarchs. , warlord - and now, he is a failed rebel leader and exile.

Yevgeny Prigozhin had the world at his fingertips on Saturday. After weeks of veiled threats, the Wagner Group leader declared an armed rebellion against Russia's leadership in Moscow.

In the early hours of Saturday, surreal images showed Wagner forces pushing into the southern city of Rostov-on-Don, supposedly en route to conquer Moscow.

Prigozhin was a close ally of the president, handed the monikerA name. "Putin's chef" for his time catering for the Kremlin - though he prefers "Putin's butcher". But that did not stop him from launching a rebellion against his former friend.

Prigozhin abandoned his insurrectionA violent uprising against a government. in the end. But some say the situation could have been disastrous.

Putin always denied that the Kremlin had links to the Wagner Group, which is a group of paid contract soldiers who have been fighting in Ukraine. But this saga has made its close relationship with the Kremlin clear.

The Wagner Group has been accused of human rights and democratic abuses in various countries in Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans.

The idea that a private military contractor can wield such power over world events is very sinister. But modern mercenariesProfessional soldiers who are hired to fight in an army. are booming. There are at least 150 military contract companies in the world.

For some, private military contractors have the same advantages as any other private practice: they can be more efficient and more responsive to changing demands and needs.

But there are valid concerns too. If private armies can be bought and used freely, what happens to democracy? It suggests that any megarich person, like Taylor Swift, could buy hundreds of thousands of soldiers to wipe out her competition - and we would not be able to do anything about it.

Yes: It is unethical to impose a profit motive on killing, bombing and maiming. Private military companies may be "more efficient", but it will always be in their interests for conflicts to continue so that the money keeps rolling in.

No: We hear little of private armies because they can carry out covert missions and intelligence-gathering, as well as targeted military actions, very efficiently. They are not all as unruly, violent and bloodthirsty as the Wagner Group.

Or... What happened with Prigozhin should serve as a warning to us all that there is a reason that we put elected public figures in charge of our military, and not hot dog-wielding madmen. But at the same time, Russia's despotic leadership created the conditions for Prigozhin to launch his coup - it could not happen in a democracy.