Genetic testing confirms Prigozhin died in plane crash

Russia’s aviation authority earlier released a list of 10 people on board the private plane that crashed in the Tver region, northwest of Moscow, on Wednesday. They included Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, his right-hand man who helped found the Wagner group.

Genetic test confirms prigozhin has type 1 — Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner mercenary group, has been officially confirmed dead. Photo: TASS

“As part of the investigation into the plane crash in the Tver region, molecular genetic examinations have been completed,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.

"As a result, the identities of all 10 deceased have been established. They correspond to the list recorded in the flight information sheet," the agency said.

There has been some speculation about whether Prigozhin was actually on board the doomed flight. Authorities have yet to say what caused his private plane to crash.

Prigozhin’s Wagner fighters fought for the Russian army in Ukraine, but left after the June coup and some have moved to neighboring Belarus. Some of the soldiers are expected to be absorbed into the Russian armed forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin paid tribute to Prigozhin on Thursday, describing him as a "talented businessman" who "made serious mistakes in life".

Hoang Anh (according to TASS, Reuters)

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