Russia says genetic tests confirm Prigozhin died in plane crash

MOSCOW, Aug 27 (Reuters) – Russian researchers said on Sunday that genetic tests had confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhinhead of the Wagner mercenary group, was among the 10 people killed in a plane crash last week.

The Russian aviation agency had previously published the names of the 10 people on board the private plane that crashed in the Tver region northwest of Moscow on Wednesday. Among them were Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkinhis right-hand man who helped found the Wagner group.

“As part of the investigation of the plane crash in the Tver region, molecular genetic examinations have been completed,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

“According to their results, it was possible to determine the identity of the 10 dead. They correspond to the list that appears on the flight sheet,” he added.

There was some speculation, especially on pro-Wagner Telegram channels, as to whether Prigozhin, who was known to take various security precautions in anticipation of a possible attempt on his life, had actually been on the doomed flight.

Authorities have yet to say what they think caused his private jet to fall out of the sky.

‘STAB IN THE BACK’

The accident came two months after Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenaries staged a mutiny against Russian military commanders in which they seized control of a southern city, Rostov, and advanced on Moscow before retreating 200 kilometers (125 miles) away. the capital.

Muscovites laid flowers on Sunday at a makeshift shrine festooned with Russian flags and photographs set up a short distance from the Kremlin in memory of Prigozhin and Utkin.

“I’ve gotten used to comrades-in-arms dying,” said Dmitry Karpov, who was wearing a military uniform, adding that Prigozhin had shown by his actions how things should be done in wartime. “These people remain in history as an example.”

Another man who came to pay his respects, Alexander Dykhov, alluded to President Vladimir Putin’s criticism of Prigozhin’s past mistakes. “I think all this will be forgotten when some mistakes, different opinions are talked about. And the image of a hero will remain in the memory of the people. He and Dmitri Utkin are true heroes.”

Putin described the riot on June 23-24 as a treacherous “stab in the back” but later met Prigozhin in the Kremlin. The shipment your condolences on Thursday to the families of those killed in the accident.

Western politicians and commentators have suggested, without presenting evidence, that Putin ordered Prigozhin to be assassinated as punishment for the riot, which also represented the biggest challenge to Putin’s own government since he came to power in 1999.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that such suggestions were “an absolute lie.” Asked if Putin would be able to attend Prigozhin’s funeral, Peskov said it was too early to tell, also noting the president’s “busy schedule”.

Wagnerian fighters He played a leading role in the fighting in eastern Ukraine, especially in the months-long siege of the city of Bakhmut, despite Prigozhin’s frequent profanity-filled attacks on Russia’s military high command over its conduct of the war that culminated in the failed mutiny.

Wagner’s fighters have left Ukraine and some have moved to neighboring Belarus under the terms of an agreement that ended their mutiny.

Some are expected to be absorbed into the Russian armed forces, but many will be angered by the sudden demise of the group’s founder who inspired a high degree of loyalty among his men.

Putin paid a mixed tribute to Prigozhin on Thursday, describing him as a “talented businessman” but also a flawed character who “made serious mistakes in life.”

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