Putin breaks his silence as he's blamed for death of Wagner boss in plane crash

24 August 2023 , 11:32

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Putin breaks his silence as he's blamed for death of Wagner boss in plane crash

Russian president Vladimir Putin has finally broken his silence after being blamed for the presumed death of the Wagner mercenary boss, in a plane crash.

Yevgeny Prigozhin was the director of Putin's former shadow army Wagner PMC - a mercenary group Russia secretly utilised in conflicts across the world, including in its invasion of Ukraine. But Prigozhin shocked the world when he turned his troops, some 25,000 of them, towards Moscow and marched towards Putin and his cronies two months ago. His action came after prolonged complaints aimed at the Russian military hierarchy.

The former hot dog stand owner was previously close to Putin, who helped him open his factory in 2010. However, after the war in Ukraine, during which Priogzhin seemingly felt his troops were unfairly bearing the brunt, he marched on Putin. A tentative peace was agreed, and the mercenary boss left the country. At the time, President Vladimir Putin denounced the rebellion as "treason" and a "stab in the back" and vowed to avenge it. But the charges against Prigozhin were soon dropped.

Vladimir Putin decided not to mention Prigozhin's presumed death in his first speech since the plane crash (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Then yesterday, when reports emerged the plane he had been flying crashed. Fingers were quickly pointed at Vladimir Putin, who has long been accused of killing or imprisoning his enemies. US President Joe Biden was amongst those who suspected Putin was behind the incident, as was Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak.

Similarly, former head of MI6 Sir John Sawyers told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "All the indications point to the fact that Putin has taken him out, he is reasserting his control. He is making clear to everyone both inside Russia and outside he is not going to brook any challenge. There is a slim chance he is not dead, and he wasn't on that plane - he will be soon."

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Putin speaking virtually at this year's BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

However, finally speaking out, Putin avoided the topic altogether and made no mention of it. In his virtual address of world leaders at this weeks BRICS summit Putin conveniently left out any mention of the man who just months ago was marching towards Moscow. Instead he congratulated the hosting South African president on the announcement that six countries, including Iran and Saudi Arabia and Argentina, are joining the economic alliance.

The BRICS alliance is currently comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa and Russia is thought to be keen to build it up to challenged western domination of the global economy. In his remarks today, he took aim at western powers and "neo-liberalism", Reuters reported, which he warned posed a threat to the values of developing country.

Prigozhin led the mercenary group Wagner (TELEGRAM / @ razgruzka_vagnera/A)

Video footage emerged of the light aircraft tumbling out the sky in the Bologovsky district in the Tver region. It was initially unknown if Wagner chief Prigozhin was on board. A report from Russia's aviation agency Rosaviatsiya said Prigozhin was named on the passenger list The Wagner-linked Grey Zone Telegram channel added that the downing of the private plane, which was owned by the 62-year-old former convict, was shot down "as a result of actions of traitors of Russia".

It's understood that ten people, seven passengers and three flight crew, were on-board the flight bound to St Petersburg from Moscow. Just before 7pm GMT, it was reported that eight bodies had been recovered from the crash site, but later reports said all ten had been retrieved. The corpses were described as badly charred. One was missing a head while another had a “shattered face”, said Baza media.

A photo shared on Telegram claiming to show the burning wreckage of Prigozhin's plane (TELEGRAM/ @grey_zone/AFP via Get)

Prigozhin, 62, had recently been warned that he could become an asassination target after leading a failed coup against the regime two months ago. A channel linked to Wagner said the plane had been shot down by air defences, which could not be independently verified. Sources close to the Wagner warlord - who is widely known to take extra care in relation to his security - said that while the aircraft belonged to him, he usually flew on another aircraft.

Since, masked men claiming to be a part of Wagner Group have released a chilling video promising revenge. In a video released after the crash, masked men appear to promise revenge on Moscow. In the footage one man says: "There's a lot of talk right now about what the Wagner Group will do. We can tell you one thing, we are getting started, get ready for us." The video released online is yet to be confirmed as officially on behalf of the group.

Kieren Williams