Mykhailo Podolyak (archive from Reuters)
Dubai – Al Arabiya.net
Posted on: August 23, 2023: 11:28 PM GST Last updated: August 23, 2023: 11:12 PM GST
Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak considered that the plane crash in Russia, with the name of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin on its passenger list, is a “message” from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Russian elites.
Putin never forgives
Podolyak confirmed in a post on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter) that “getting rid of” Prigozhin and Wagner’s leadership “two months after the coup attempt is a message from Putin to the Russian elites before the 2024 elections,” adding, “Putin does not forgive anyone.”
In addition, a private passenger plane with 10 people on board crashed Wednesday, in the Tver region, north of the Russian capital, during an internal flight between Moscow and St. Petersburg, according to the authorities, who confirmed that everyone on board was killed.
The Russian Emergencies Ministry said in a post on the Telegram application: “There were 10 people on board the plane, including a crew of 3. According to preliminary information, all the people on board died,” according to AFP.
Prigogine’s name is among the passengers on the plane
While Russian news agencies reported that the name of the commander of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is on the plane’s passenger list.
RIA Novosti, TASS and Interfax agencies quoted the Russian Air Transport Agency “Rosaviatsia” as saying that Prigozhin’s name appeared on the passenger list of this plane, which was heading from Moscow to St. Petersburg and crashed, killing all 10 people on board.
No official confirmations
However, it has not yet been officially confirmed that Prigozhin was actually on board.
Wagner’s media also reported the presence of the group’s founder, Dmitry Utkin, on board the crashed plane.
He confirmed that Prigozhin had arrived in Russia from Africa earlier on Wednesday.
The short rebellion
It is noteworthy that Prigozhin, 62, led a rebellion against the leaders of the Russian army on June 23 and 24, a rebellion that Russian President Vladimir Putin said would have thrown Russia into a civil war.
The rebellion ended with negotiations and what appeared to be an agreement with the Kremlin that included Prigozhin’s agreement to move to neighboring Belarus. But he appeared to move freely inside Russia after the agreement.
Prigozhin sought to overthrow Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
On Monday, he posted a video address indicating that he was in Africa.
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#Kiev #Wagner #Commanders #Plane #Crash #Putin #Forgives
2023-08-23 19:12:38
