MOSCOW: Russia’s Investigative Committee on Saturday confirmed the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the prominent figure heading the Wagner paramilitary group, following a thorough genetic analysis in the wake of a plane crash that occurred last Wednesday.
Prigozhin was known for his leadership of Wagner, a group often associated with controversial activities in conflict zones.
Investigative Committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko confirmed, “Molecular-genetic examinations have been completed as part of the investigation into the plane crash in the Tver region.
According to their results, the identities of all 10 victims were established, they correspond to the list stated in the flight list.”
Russia Denies Allegations
The private Embraer jet that crashed carried a total of 10 individuals, including Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, a shadowy figure believed to have managed Wagner’s operations and reportedly served in Russian military intelligence.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov swiftly responded to speculations surrounding Yevgeny Prigozhin’s tragic death, labeling these speculations as “tragic” and dismissing rumors of foul play as an “absolute lie.”
Russian authorities have initiated an investigation into possible air traffic violations in relation to the crash. Specific details about the potential cause of the crash have not been disclosed at this time.
