The tragic death of Yevgeny Prigojine, the boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, has been confirmed by the Russian authorities. His plane crashed in Russia last Wednesday and the results of the genetic expertise confirmed the identity of the ten victims found, including that of Prigozhin.
This crash has sparked much speculation as to the causes of the accident. Investigators have not yet revealed the leads they are exploring, leaving doubt as to a possible assassination at the top of Russian power. Suspicion quickly fell on the Kremlin, but authorities strongly denied any involvement in Prigozhin’s death.
The death of Evguéni Prigojine also provoked reactions in several countries. Senior officials in Washington, Paris, Berlin and kyiv have suggested the Kremlin might be involved. However, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko backed the Kremlin, saying it was difficult to imagine that the Russian president had ordered such an assassination.
Since the crash, improvised memorials have been erected in several Russian cities where the Wagner Group had its training centers. Locals come to lay flowers there as a sign of respect for Prigojine. For some, he was considered a hero, while others blame his enemies for orchestrating his death. The situation remains tense and the truth about this tragic accident is waiting to be revealed.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, once a close ally of Vladimir Putin, rebelled against Russian rule last June, provoking tensions. Although he gave up his mutiny after negotiations with the government, he had continued to stir up controversy. The Wagner group, of which he was the leader, is accused of numerous abuses and violence where it is deployed, in Africa in particular.
The disappearance of Yevgeni Prigozhin raises many questions about the future of the Wagner group and the political implications that could result from it. The ongoing investigation should provide answers and help to better understand the exact circumstances of this tragic accident