Act of Vengeance? US media raises questions over Wagnor chief’s death

NEW YORK: The ‘mysterious’ death of Wagner mercenary group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in an air crash over Russia, has raised questions on whether it was an accident or an act of vengeance by the Russian militia for his failed mutiny against President Vladimir Putin during the Ukraine war.

Prigozhin was confirmed dead after DNA swabs of the bodies from last week’s plane crash were matched, Russian officials said on Sunday. The officials said "the identities of all 10 dead correspond to the list stated in the flight sheet" of the aircraft. It went down north of Moscow on Wednesday several minutes after takeoff. On board were Prigozhin and some of his most senior and trusted lieutenants, media reports said.

“We will probably never know exactly what happened, but two months to the day after Prigozhin’s failed mutiny against President Vladimir Putin, most of the evidence indicates something orchestrated by the Kremlin,” alleged MO News, a US website that circulates digest of the morning news to its subscribers.

AN ACT OF VENGEANCE?

Recall June: Prigozhin was a hot dog vendor-turned Kremlin caterer-turned ruthless Putin ally. Following years of their close relationship, Prighozhin led a 36-hour rebellion on June 23 attempting to topple Russia’s military leadership. His Wagner mercenary group (named after Hitler’s favourite composer) took over a military command HQ, several towns, slaughtered over a dozen Russian soldiers and steam rolled their tanks to within 125 miles of Moscow.

Putin had pledged to punish those behind the rebellion. In order to avoid any embarrassment and ensure that the ongoing war in Ukraine did not get jeopardized, Putin cut a quick deal with Prigozhin, allowing him to reside in neighbouring Belarus without facing any charges, reports said. (IANS)

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