Russian President Vladimir Putin has made the decision not to attend the funeral of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the mercenary group known as the Wagner Group, who died in a plane crash. The Kremlin announced this on Tuesday. The burial location and date have not been disclosed, although reports suggest that it may take place in Prigozhin’s hometown of St. Petersburg. The Serafimovskoye cemetery, which is known for high-profile military burials, is a potential burial site. The cemetery is also where Putin’s parents are buried, and there has been increased police presence in the area.
Prigozhin’s top lieutenants, who also died in the crash, are expected to be buried in St. Petersburg as well. The Investigative Committee, Russia’s top criminal investigation agency, confirmed Prigozhin’s death on Sunday. The cause of the crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Moscow, is still unknown. Prior to the crash, Prigozhin had returned from a trip to Africa, where he was seeking to expand the activities of the Wagner Group.
Western officials have suggested that the crash was the result of an intentional explosion, and a preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment supports this claim. However, the Kremlin has vehemently denied these allegations and called them an “absolute lie.” The crash occurred two months after Prigozhin led a rebellion against the Russian military leadership, which resulted in the takeover of a military headquarters and several downed military aircraft.
Following the rebellion, Putin denounced it as treason but ultimately reached a deal with Prigozhin that granted amnesty and permission for him and his troops to move to Belarus. Prigozhin’s second-in-command, Dmitry Utkin, and Wagner logistics chief Valery Chekalov were also killed in the crash. The future of the Wagner Group, which has been involved in various military campaigns, including in Ukraine and several African and Middle Eastern countries, remains uncertain.
Putin has offered Wagner fighters the option to sign contracts with the Russian military, move to Belarus, or retire from service. Many have chosen to relocate to Belarus, where they are currently stationed in a camp near the capital, Minsk. Overall, the circumstances surrounding Prigozhin’s death and the future of the Wagner Group have generated significant attention and speculation.
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