The Russian authorities have adamantly rejected any responsibility for the air catastrophe that is rumored to have claimed the life of Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin this week. The Kremlin was quick to refute the speculative idea that Russian President Vladimir Putin orchestrated the crash, categorizing such claims as absolute fabrication.
“At present, naturally, there’s an overflow of speculation surrounding this plane crash and the unfortunate deaths of those on board, including Yevgeny Prigozhin,” Peskov shared with journalists during a conference call. “Regrettably, the West often frames such rumours in a biased manner, all of which are absolute fabrications,” he continued as cited by Fox News.
Peskov skilfully sidestepped a direct query about Prigozhin’s confirmed death, stating instead that “as of now, all required forensic studies, including DNA tests, are being performed. Once there are publicly releasable official conclusions, they will be made known”.
The founder of Russia’s Wagner Group, Prigozhin, who dared to challenge Putin’s reign only a few months back, tragically died in a plane crash this Wednesday. The unfortunate accident reportedly happened just outside Moscow, ending in the death of 10 people, according to the state’s media.
The business jet, which was on its way from Moscow to St Petersburg, unexpectedly crashed in the Tver region. The TASS news agency shared these details of the incident.
Putin decided to publicly comment on Prigozhin’s death a day later, sending his condolences and expressing his sympathies without referring to any allegations of unnatural factors being involved in the crash.
He described his acquaintance with Prigozhin with these words: “I’ve known Prigozhin since the early ’90s. His was a complex journey, and he made significant missteps along the way. But he was able to get the outcomes he needed both for his personal and public causes, particularly in recent months. He was a gifted individual, a sharp businessman. His work made a mark not only in our country but also overseas in Africa, particularly in the oil, gas, and precious metals industries.”
Despite not addressing global theories suggesting the Russian government’s involvement in the death of the mercenary leader, Putin confirmed an investigation is in progress.
According to a BBC report, there are no signs suggesting that a surface-to-air missile struck Prigozhin’s plane. What led to the aircraft’s crash? Could it be confirmed beyond doubt if Prigozhin was indeed on the plane?
There has been some conjecture from journalists and political figures implying Putin could have orchestrated the explosion that reportedly took the mercenary commander’s life. However, different US government information has led to inconsistent reports in the media.
Rebekah Koffler, an expert in military intelligence and a former high-ranking official at the US Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), suggested caution when consuming Russian state media’s coverage. She shared her insights with Fox News Digital, citing Moscow’s potential motives.
She said, “At this point, we don’t have an independent verification if Russian media or federal air transport agency’s report on Prigozhin’s death is trustworthy”. She added, “Moscow might have several reasons for wanting us to think Prigozhin is dead. If he actually died in the plane crash, it may likely be a result of the assassination”.
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