MOSCOW – Russia’s Investigative Committee said on Sunday the results of genetic tests confirmed the identities of the 10 people who died in a plane crash last Wednesday, and that they included Wagner mercenary group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Russia’s aviation agency previously published the names of all 10 people on board the private jet that crashed in the Tver region north-west of Moscow. They included Mr Prigozhin and Mr Dmitry Utkin, his 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,” the investigative committee said in a statement on its site on the Telegram messaging app.
“According to their results, the identities of all 10 victims were established, they correspond to the list stated in the flight list,” the committee added.
Western politicians and commentators have suggested, without presenting evidence, that the plane appeared to have been downed on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin, as revenge for Mr Prigozhin’s aborted mutiny two months ago.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such suggestions were an “absolute lie”.
Mr Prigozhin had sent a column of mercenaries towards Moscow in an attempt to oust the leadership of the Defence Ministry.
Mr Putin described that mutiny as a treacherous “stab in the back”, but later met with Mr Prigozhin at the Kremlin.
He sent his condolences last Thursday to the families of those the aviation agency said died in the crash.
Asked whether Mr Putin might attend Mr Prigozhin’s funeral, Mr Peskov said it was too early to say and also noted the President’s “busy schedule”.
Wagner fighters played a prominent role in the fighting in eastern Ukraine, especially in the months-long siege of the city of Bakhmut, despite Mr Prigozhin’s frequent, profanity-laced attacks on Russia’s military high command over their conduct of the war that culminated in the failed mutiny.
The Wagner fighters have now left Ukraine, and some have relocated to neighbouring Belarus under the terms of a deal that ended their mutiny.
Some are expected to be absorbed into Russia’s armed forces, but many will be angry over the sudden demise of the group’s founder, who inspired a high degree of loyalty among his men.
Mr Putin paid a mixed tribute to Mr Prigozhin on Thursday, describing him as a “talented businessman” but also as a flawed character who “made serious mistakes in life”.
However, his comments did little to stem rising questions and anger over Mr Prigozhin’s death, with makeshift memorials to the mercenary leader springing up across Russian cities.
“He was killed,” said one man outside a makeshift memorial in Moscow.
“He was killed by his enemies. We won’t say who. The investigation will reveal. But we hope that revenge will catch up with those who committed this crime,” he added. REUTERS, AFP
https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnN0cmFpdHN0aW1lcy5jb20vd29ybGQvZXVyb3BlL3J1c3NpYS1zLWludmVzdGlnYXRvcnMtY29uZmlybS13YWduZXItbWVyY2VuYXJ5LWNoaWVmLXByaWdvemhpbi1kaWVkLWluLXBsYW5lLWNyYXNo0gEA?oc=5
2023-08-27 11:05:36Z
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