bury Yevgeny Prigozhin secretly, without military honors
11:05 am, August 30, 2023
Source: Meduza
The decision to bury Wagner Group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin secretly, without either military honors or publicity, was made by Russia’s presidential administration and the state security service.
Citing two high-ranking Russian officials who spoke on condition of anonymity, The Moscow Times reported that several meetings took place between the Kremlin officials and the FSB to discuss the funeral protocol.
Vladimir Putin’s First Deputy Chief of Staff Sergey Kiriyenko was a key player in determining how to handle the sensitive event.
According to one of the insiders to the decision-making process, the task was to make sure that “when the casket with Prigozhin’s body was being lowered into the grave, there wouldn’t be any mass gathering of residents, mercenaries, and sympathizers.” Another aim was to prevent any live-streaming on social media or photos being taken, “starting from the entrance to the cemetery.”
Another speaker explained the prohibition on publicity in terms of Putin’s grudge for the insurrection attempted by Prigozhin and Wagner Group earlier this summer.
“With his demand for justice and his sharp, often truthful remarks, Prigozhin elicited an emotion from the Russians, not as a formal Hero of Russia but as a people’s hero. And do we need heroes who marched on Moscow?” asked one of the officials, rhetorically. “No, we don’t.”
As a result of these deliberations, the authorities resolved to create a “smoke screen” around the proceedings, to minimize publicity and excitement about Prigozhin’s last farewell, and even to keep its location secret until after the fact.
HOW THE AUTHORITIES MANAGED YEVGENY PRIGOZHIN’S FUNERAL
A 'special funeral operation' How St. Petersburg officials, police, and Wagner mercenaries kept the media's eyes off Yevgeny Prigozhin's funeral
19 hours ago
Kremlin says ‘deliberate wrongdoing’ is a possible cause of the plane crash that killed Prigozhin
By —Associated Press
By —Associated Press
Aug 30, 2023
MOSCOW (AP) — “Deliberate wrongdoing” is among the possible causes of the plane crash that killed Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin last week, the Kremlin’s spokesperson said Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters during his daily conference call, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that “different versions” of what happened exist and “are being considered” by Russian investigators, including, “let’s put this way, deliberate wrongdoing.”
READ MORE: Private memorial service has been held for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin
A business jet carrying Prigozhin, the founder and leader of the private military force Wagner, and his top lieutenants crashed halfway between Moscow and St. Petersburg a week ago, killing all seven passengers and three crew members.
The Interstate Aviation Committee, the Moscow-headquartered body that oversees civil aviation in most former Soviet republics, said in an online statement Wednesday that it was not currently investigating the crash, although the agency has an accident investigation division.
Peskov said there can’t be an international investigation into why the plane plummeted from the sky and he urged reporters to wait for the Russian Investigative Committee to complete its review. The committee said last week that it opened a criminal case to look into possible flight safety violations, a standard procedure in Russia when there is no immediate reason to suspect foul play.
The crash occurred exactly two months after Prigozhin mounted a short-lived armed rebellion against Russia’s military leadership, posing the biggest challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s authority in his 23-year rule. The Kremlin has denied involvement in the crash.
Prigozhin, 62, was buried in St. Petersburg, his hometown, in a private ceremony that was shrouded in secrecy until Tuesday evening, when his spokespeople revealed the location of his grave.
Western officials and analysts expect the private Wagner army to continue operating, particularly in the Sahel region of Africa, where Russian mercenaries have provided security against extremist organizations like al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
“I am sure they’ll find a replacement” for Prigozhin, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Wednesday after chairing talks among EU defense ministers.
WATCH: A look at the man running mercenary Wagner Group in Russia’s war against Ukraine
“Wagner will continue to operate in the service of Putin in Africa, doing what they do, which is not contributing to peace in the Sahel or the defense of the rights of Saharan Africans,” Borrell said.
Africa is vitally important to Russia — economically and politically.
This summer, Wagner helped secure a national referendum in the Central African Republic that cemented presidential power; it is a key partner for Mali’s army in battling armed rebels; and it contacted the military junta in Niger that wants its services following a coup.
Expanding ties and undercutting Western influence in Africa is a top priority as the Kremlin seeks new allies during its war in Ukraine, where Wagner fighters helped Russia win a long and bloody battle for the city of Bakhmut.
Africa’s 54 nations are the largest voting bloc at the U.N., and Moscow has actively worked to rally their support for its invasion.
MOSCOW (AP) — “Deliberate wrongdoing” is among the possible causes of the plane crash that killed Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin last week, the Kremlin’s spokesperson said Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters during his daily conference call, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that “different versions” of what happened exist and “are being considered” by Russian investigators, including, “let’s put this way, deliberate wrongdoing.”
READ MORE: Private memorial service has been held for Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin
A business jet carrying Prigozhin, the founder and leader of the private military force Wagner, and his top lieutenants crashed halfway between Moscow and St. Petersburg a week ago, killing all seven passengers and three crew members.
The Interstate Aviation Committee, the Moscow-headquartered body that oversees civil aviation in most former Soviet republics, said in an online statement Wednesday that it was not currently investigating the crash, although the agency has an accident investigation division.
Peskov said there can’t be an international investigation into why the plane plummeted from the sky and he urged reporters to wait for the Russian Investigative Committee to complete its review. The committee said last week that it opened a criminal case to look into possible flight safety violations, a standard procedure in Russia when there is no immediate reason to suspect foul play.
The crash occurred exactly two months after Prigozhin mounted a short-lived armed rebellion against Russia’s military leadership, posing the biggest challenge to President Vladimir Putin’s authority in his 23-year rule. The Kremlin has denied involvement in the crash.
Prigozhin, 62, was buried in St. Petersburg, his hometown, in a private ceremony that was shrouded in secrecy until Tuesday evening, when his spokespeople revealed the location of his grave.
Western officials and analysts expect the private Wagner army to continue operating, particularly in the Sahel region of Africa, where Russian mercenaries have provided security against extremist organizations like al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
“I am sure they’ll find a replacement” for Prigozhin, European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Wednesday after chairing talks among EU defense ministers.
WATCH: A look at the man running mercenary Wagner Group in Russia’s war against Ukraine
“Wagner will continue to operate in the service of Putin in Africa, doing what they do, which is not contributing to peace in the Sahel or the defense of the rights of Saharan Africans,” Borrell said.
Africa is vitally important to Russia — economically and politically.
This summer, Wagner helped secure a national referendum in the Central African Republic that cemented presidential power; it is a key partner for Mali’s army in battling armed rebels; and it contacted the military junta in Niger that wants its services following a coup.
Expanding ties and undercutting Western influence in Africa is a top priority as the Kremlin seeks new allies during its war in Ukraine, where Wagner fighters helped Russia win a long and bloody battle for the city of Bakhmut.
Africa’s 54 nations are the largest voting bloc at the U.N., and Moscow has actively worked to rally their support for its invasion.
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