Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
by Maria Makusheva
[REGNUM] As recent polls show, the number of supporters of the version that the plane crash in which Yevgeny Prigozhin died was staged, and Prigozhin is actually alive, not only does not decrease over time, but even grows.
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In the twenties of August, when asked by sociologists about versions of the causes of the disaster, 16% of Russians answered: “Prigozhin set everything up, in fact he is alive.”
Then, at the end of August, the media reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin was buried. The information was officially confirmed at all levels. None of the leaders of public opinion expressed any doubts that Yevgeny Prigozhin died in this disaster.
Nevertheless, in the latest survey published in mid-September, Russians even more often than two weeks before see staging among the versions of the causes of the disaster. When asked by Russian Field, 22% of Russians already say : “The plane crash was staged, in fact Prigozhin is alive . ”
Why is this happening?
There is something called Allport's Law, which states that rumor is a function of the importance of an event multiplied by its ambiguity.
The “revival mechanism” is close to the mechanics of rumors: “revival” cannot occur if death overtakes a person in old age or due to a long illness. The myth of salvation arises only around famous people, and only if death is sudden.
What provokes faith in revival is most often the motive of unfinished business, expectations from the hero. As, for example, with the death of Viktor Tsoi at the height of his career. After the death of Jim Morrison, leader of The Doors, in 1971, some fans claimed that he continued to live under a different name. Elvis Presley, the king of rock and roll, died in 1977, but since then many of his fans claim that someone saw him alive.
The myth may be based on the experience of the injustice of death, the crime committed - after the execution of the royal family in Yekaterinburg, rumors appeared that some family members survived. The myth about the surviving daughter of Nicholas II, Anastasia, turned out to be the most persistent; some people sincerely believe that she managed to escape, despite all the historical evidence and examinations.
Another motive is acute antipathy, fear, hatred of the hero. After World War II, rumors circulated that Adolf Hitler managed to survive and hid somewhere in South America.
A person is not only inclined to look for an explanation for everything that happens, but it is especially important for him to explain a frightening and dangerous phenomenon - this includes disasters, virus outbreaks, and the accidental death of people in the prime of life. It is difficult to recognize the randomness of such an event - this means a loss of control over the circumstances.
To explain is to take back control. Once upon a time, the universal explanation was divine punishment. In the secular world, a conspiracy of elites has replaced God's punishment.
As a rule, the dissemination of versions about non-accidental tragedies reveals distrust, a sense of distance from the elites, denial of official sources - everything that is on the surface (shown on TV, told in official sources) is a lie, there is a second meaning behind any action, we will never they will tell the whole truth.
How do such myths spread if official sources stick to one version? Like any rumor - through a network of confidential communication - a smoking room, a garage, a chat. For a rumor to be conveyed there must be something credible. In the case of “man-made viruses” or “harmful toxins,” scientific calculations are appropriate. But most often this is a reference to authority - an eyewitness, a superior. As Tamotsu Shibutani writes, “a random point of contact takes on extraordinary importance” - an acquaintance of an acquaintance whose son-in-law serves in the police, a boxing coach engaged to the daughter of a general, etc. In Russian reality, researchers of rumors and fake news most often note references to government officials as trusted sources.
How long can the myth about “Prigozhin who faked his death” survive? This depends on several factors.
First, unlike gossip, which has a short lifespan, stories that affect a person's interests and/or safety can be very persistent and circulate for a long time.
For example, for many years the so-called Villejuif list was circulating in Europe - a leaflet calling for the abandonment of a number of food products containing dangerous toxins and carcinogens. Citrus acid (E330) has been flagged as one of the most dangerous ingredients.
There was no real confirmation of the list. But he existed and acted.
Secondly, a long-lived rumor is distinguished by the fact that the topic or problem at its core must remain relevant for a long time. For example, stories about unconfirmed accidents and leaks at factories in industrial cities can circulate as long as the plant is in operation.
It can be assumed that the above factors will most likely contribute to the persistence of the myth that the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin was staged. His name is firmly tied to the Northern Military District, the importance of which for Russians is beyond doubt. In the near future, SVO will remain in the information space. And there is no doubt that in the context of an ever-increasing flow of unverifiable fake news, eyewitnesses who “recently saw Prigozhin will be discovered.”
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