30 August 2023 , 14:06
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The widow and daughter of Wagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin have visited his grave amid growing speculation he is still alive.
A funeral was held for the 62-year-old former Putin ally yesterday following his suspicious death in a plane crash near Moscow on August 23. His body was not shown during the private service, which was attended by only a few people and saw his tombstone surrounded by armed guards who prevented mourners from coming near.
Vladimir Putin was not present at the ceremony. Prigozhin's personal press service - which had publicised many of his outspoken rants against the Russian Ministry of Defence - did not confirm the location of the funeral, and said in a short statement that people wishing to pay respects can visit Porokhovskoye cemetery in St Petersburg.
Vladimir Putin was not present at the Wagner leader's private ceremony (ANATOLY MALTSEV/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)His death along with commander Dmitry Utkin and other Wagner personnel last week came just two months after he led his mercenary troops to a failed rebellion against the Kremlin. Many on the international stage, including Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, have suggested that his death was ordered by either Putin himself or high-up state officials. US intelligence services have said they believe the aircraft was destroyed by an explosion inside.
Others, however, have put forward the surprising theory that the Wagner Group boss remains 'alive and well', and was not on the plane en route to St Petersburg. Dr Valery Solovey, a former professor at the Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) university in Moscow, said he thought Prigozhin had likely put a body double on board, and was now plotting his revenge against those who ordered the killings.
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Some conspiracy theorists have suggested Prigozhin pictured in May, is 'alive and well' (AP)He told the MailOnline: "Prigozhin himself was not on board. His double was flying instead of him. By the way, Vladimir Putin is perfectly aware of that. If you believe official statements of the Russian authorities, then what can I say…?" Dr Solovey also accused the Russian authorities of lying over Prigozhin’s DNA being found at the crash site in Tver region.
His comments come after a chilling video resurfaced online showing Prigozhin appearing to predict the circumstances of his own death. In the clip, the Wagner leader draws a parallel between Russia under Putin's leadership and an aircraft teetering on the edge of disaster, with the potential to fall apart while still in flight. He says: "I have no right to lie before the people who will live in this country [Russia]... you better kill me. Russia today stands on the brink of a catastrophe. If these screws are not adjusted today, then the whole plane will fall apart in the sky."