Title: Russian Businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin Presumed Dead in Mysterious Plane Crash
Subtitle: Former Catering Magnate and Owner of the Kremlin-Backed Wagner Group Met Mysterious End Following Uprising
Date: August 24, 2023
Reports have emerged suggesting that Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former businessman with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, is presumed dead after a suspicious plane crash just outside Moscow. The 62-year-old, who owned the Kremlin-allied Wagner Group, a mercenary force involved in Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, recently found himself in a precarious position when he openly criticized his country’s military leadership.
Prigozhin’s attempted uprising against Russia’s defense chiefs in June, which included occupying Rostov-on-Don and advancing towards Moscow, ended in uneasy peace talks. Yet, two months later, on August 23, a private plane believed to be carrying Prigozhin crashed in the Tver region, killing all 10 people on board.
While it has not been confirmed that Prigozhin was on the plane, he and his deputy Dmitry Utkin were on the passenger list. Many speculate that this incident is retribution for his open rebellion against Russia’s military leadership.
The tumultuous events unfolded when Prigozhin called for an armed uprising to remove Valery Gerasimov and Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s defense chiefs. The rebellion, seen as an act of treachery by President Putin, saw Prigozhin’s men occupying Rostov-on-Don and shooting down military helicopters as they marched towards Moscow.
In response, Russian security services launched a criminal investigation and demanded Prigozhin’s arrest. The Kremlin took the threat seriously, with riot police and the National Guard tightening security at key facilities in Moscow. Eventually, peace talks mediated by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko resolved the standoff, with Prigozhin and some of his fighters leaving for Belarus.
However, confusion surrounded the implementation of the agreement, and Prigozhin was later seen back in St Petersburg. State television reported an ongoing investigation against him and aired footage of confiscated cash, weapons, and passports supposedly seized from his properties.
Prigozhin, known as “Putin’s chef” due to his close relationship with the Russian leader, gained immense wealth through his catering businesses. He also founded the Wagner Group, a Kremlin-backed private military company that played a significant role in Russian military endeavors in Syria, Libya, and the Central African Republic. The United States has sanctioned Wagner Group, accusing it of atrocities.
Furthermore, Prigozhin admitted to founding and financing the Internet Research Agency, a “troll farm” that allegedly interfered in the 2016 US presidential election. He and several others were indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller for their involvement. The US Treasury Department has repeatedly sanctioned Prigozhin and associates in connection with both election interference and his leadership of Wagner.
Although the circumstances of Prigozhin’s presumed death remain mysterious, his passing marks the end of a controversial figure who once wielded significant power and influence within Putin’s inner circle.
As investigations into the plane crash continue, questions remain about the implications and potential consequences of Prigozhin’s demise for Russia’s political landscape and its involvement in international conflicts.