Kremlin denies involvement in plane crash that killed Prigozhin

The Kremlin on Friday rejected insinuations that it had anything to do with Wednesday’s plane crash in Russia’s Tver region. The jet carried Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, six other passengers, and a three-person crew, according to Russia’s civil aviation authorities. Rescuers found 10 bodies, and as of Sunday, Russian investigators were saying genetic tests had established that Prigozhin was among the dead. A preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment has concluded that an intentional explosion downed the plane.

Would the Kremlin have a reason to kill Prigozhin? Prigozhin was behind a brief mutiny in June that threatened Putin’s 23-year rule. Putin called the rebellion “treason,” but ended the mutiny in exchange for amnesty for Prigozhin and his men.

Dig deeper: Read Evgeny Kosykh’s report in WORLD Magazine about Prigozhin’s mercenary Wagner Group.