Russia says genetic tests confirm Wagner chief Prigozhin died in plane crash

Yevgeny Prigozhin
File photo: Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin (Reuters)

August 27, 2023

Russian investigators on Sunday said that genetic tests had confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the Wagner mercenary group, was among the 10 people killed in a plane crash on Wednesday.

“As part of the investigation of the plane crash in the Tver region, molecular-genetic examinations have been completed. According to their results, the identities of all 10 dead were established. They correspond to the list stated in the flight sheet,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement.

Russia’s aviation agency had previously published the names of all 10 people on board the private jet which crashed in the Tver region northwest of Moscow. They included Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, his right-hand man who helped found the Wagner group.

The private jet crashed two months to the day after Prigozhin led an abortive mutiny against Russia’s army top brass.

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