A video of Prigozhin appeared that is reportedly filmed in Africa not long before his death.
“So, fans of discussing my death, intimate life, earnings, etc., I am doing fine,” Prigozhin says. pic.twitter.com/UcIKpgLNZi— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) August 31, 2023
A recent video has emerged of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, in which he jokes about rumors of his death while apparently in Africa. Days later, Prigozhin tragically died in a plane crash near Moscow. The incident is shrouded in speculation, with some suggesting it was an act of retribution orchestrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin following the Wagner Group’s brief rebellion against Russia’s military leadership.
Key Points:
- Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner mercenary group, appeared in a video from Africa dismissing rumors of his demise shortly before his actual death in a plane crash.
- The plane crash on August 23 killed all 10 people onboard, including key figures from the Wagner group.
- The cause of the crash is unclear, with some speculating it was deliberately downed on Putin’s orders after the Wagner Group’s armed revolt against the Russian military in June.
- The tensions between Wagner and Moscow had been escalating, leading to Prigozhin’s exile to Belarus.
- Western officials and leaders, including the CIA Director and President Joe Biden, hinted at potential retaliation against Prigozhin from Putin due to past betrayals.