MOSCOW: Russian President Putin has sent his condolences to the family of Wagner boss, breaking his silence over the matter after his plane crashed with no survivors 60 days after he led a mutiny against Moscow.
President Putin Breaks Silence on Prigozhin’s Death
Russia opened a criminal investigation, but there has been no official word from authorities on what may have caused the crash. Until President Putin’s remarks, there had been no official confirmation of Wagner head’s death beyond a statement from the aviation agency say he was on board.
President Putin described the chief of Wagner as a talented businessperson whom he had known since the 90s and said the probe into the accident would take time.
Prigozhin was boss of the Wagner group and a self-declared enemy of the military top brass over what he said was its unskilled prosecution of the war in Ukraine.
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President Putin earlier made a virtual speech at a summit of the BRICS countries in South Africa which Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs was attending.
Earlier, the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, which in June attempted to topple Russia’s army leadership, was on board a plane that crashed on Wednesday, with all passengers killed, Russian authorities confirmed. The accident comes sixty days after the head of the group launched a rebellion — seen as the major challenge to President Putin’s government since he came to power. According to initial information, all 10 passengers on board died, including crew members, the ministry said. Russia’s aviation agency later confirmed the Wagner chief was also on board.
