A private jet crashed in Russia on Wednesday, killing all 10 people aboard, including Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder and leader of the Wagner Group, a notorious Russian private military company. Prigozhin was accused of launching a failed coup attempt against President Vladimir Putin in June, and was wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes in Ukraine.
The jet, an Embraer Legacy 600, was en route from Moscow to St Petersburg when it went down in the Tver region, about 200 kilometers north of the capital. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but some sources have suggested that the plane was shot down by Russian air defenses or sabotaged by Putin’s loyalists.
Prigozhin, a former caterer who earned the nickname “Putin’s chef” for his close ties to the Kremlin, was one of the most powerful and influential figures in Russia’s shadowy world of mercenaries, oligarchs and spies. He was behind the Wagner Group, which has been involved in conflicts and covert operations in Syria, Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic and other countries. He was also linked to the Internet Research Agency, a troll factory that interfered in the 2016 US presidential election and other online campaigns.
In June, Prigozhin allegedly orchestrated a mutiny among Wagner fighters who were deployed in eastern Ukraine to support pro-Russian separatists. He reportedly offered them higher pay and better equipment if they turned against Putin and joined forces with Ukrainian troops. The plot was foiled by Russian security forces, who arrested dozens of Wagner members and confiscated their assets. Prigozhin managed to escape to Belarus, where he remained in hiding until his fatal flight.
Prigozhin’s death is a major blow to the Wagner Group and its operations around the world. It also raises questions about Putin’s grip on power and his ability to deal with dissent and challenges within his own ranks. Putin has faced mounting pressure from the West over his invasion of Ukraine, which has triggered sanctions and diplomatic isolation. He has also faced protests and criticism at home over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy and human rights.
Putin was supposed to attend the BRICS summit in South Africa this week, but he opted to participate via video link instead. He cited the coronavirus situation as the reason for his absence, but some analysts have speculated that he feared being arrested by South African authorities under an ICC warrant. The warrant was issued in March for Putin’s alleged role in the illegal deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia.
In his video address, Putin blamed the West for instigating the war in Ukraine and undermining global stability. He also claimed that his war on the US dollar was “gaining momentum” and that Russia was diversifying its trade and financial relations with other countries. He said that Russia supported “the peoples who are fighting for their sovereignty, culture and identity” against “external pressure and coercion”.
Putin’s speech was met with skepticism and criticism by some of his BRICS counterparts, especially from Brazil and India, who have expressed solidarity with Ukraine and condemned Russia’s aggression. They also questioned Putin’s authenticity, as some journalists noticed that his voice sounded different and lower than usual in the video. The Kremlin has not commented on this issue or on Prigozhin’s death.
The BRICS summit is expected to conclude on Thursday with a joint declaration that will reflect the common interests and goals of the five emerging economies. However, it is unlikely that the summit will resolve the deep divisions and tensions that exist among them, especially between Russia and its partners.
