‘Assassination’ of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin could plunge Russia into civil war, jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny warns

The obvious assassination of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin might plunge Russia into civil struggle, jailed opposition chief Alexei Navalny warned yesterday.

He accused Vladimir Putin of ordering the homicide of the mercenary group boss months after he led an aborted rise up in opposition to the Kremlin.

The Ministry of Defence stated there was ‘not but definitive proof’ that Prigozhin was on the non-public jet that crashed after an explosion on board nevertheless it was ‘extremely seemingly’.

It warned his loss of life would have ‘a deeply destabilising impact’ on his mercenary group, which operates in hotspots all over the world together with Ukraine, Syria and several other African international locations.

Wagner troopers have threatened to storm the Kremlin and precise revenge for the presumed loss of life of their chief, his second-in-command Dmitry Utkin and several other different key lieutenants.

Jailed opposition chief Alexei Navalny accused Vladimir Putin of ordering the homicide of the mercenary group boss months after he led an aborted rise up in opposition to the Kremlin

Moscow has denied it was behind the aircraft crash and stated allegations that it was concerned had been a ‘full lie’.

Russian investigators say they’ve discovered the flight recorder from the Embraer Legacy jet, which plunged to the bottom 33 minutes into its flight from Moscow on Wednesday, however haven’t but confirmed the identities of the ten our bodies pulled from the wreckage.

The US Division of Defence stated its preliminary evaluation urged the crash was prompted deliberately by an explosion on the aircraft. 

Some Wagner supporters have claimed a bomb was planted in a case of wine. Mr Navalny – who survived an assassination try in 2020 – accused the Russian president of ordering the explosion, which additionally killed three flight crew members.

In a message to his supporters, he described the crash as ‘an actual terrorist act’ and stated it will make Prigozhin a martyr for his supporters. ‘It’s exactly from these substances that the dish referred to as “civil struggle” is made,’ the jailed opposition chief added.

Mr Navalny collapsed on board a aircraft in Russia in 2020 after he was poisoned with a nerve agent.

He was later jailed on fraud prices, regardless of requires his speedy launch over claims that they had been politically motivated.

Prigozhin’s supporters had urged him to problem Putin for the presidency, prompting claims that the Russian chief ordered his assassination to eradicate him and destroy his mercenary group.

The Ministry of Defence stated there was ‘not but definitive proof’ that Prigozhin was on the non-public jet that crashed after an explosion on board nevertheless it was ‘extremely seemingly’

Alexei Navalny described the crash as ‘an actual terrorist act’ and stated it will make Prigozhin a martyr for his supporters.

Prigozhin’s supporters had urged him to problem Putin for the presidency, prompting claims that the Russian chief ordered his assassination to eradicate him

In Russia, the Kremlin introduced that every one paramilitary fighters would now be obliged to swear an oath to the Russian flag

Prigozhin’s failed mutiny, when he ordered his troops to march on Moscow in June, was broadly thought-about to have sealed his destiny and his loss of life got here two months to the day after the aborted rebellion.

The way forward for his Wagner Group remained unclear, however the Ministry of Defence stated his presumed loss of life left a ‘management vacuum’.

In an intelligence briefing, it added: ‘The demise of Prigozhin virtually actually would have a deeply destabilising impact on the Wagner Group.

‘His private attributes of hyperactivity, distinctive audacity, a drive for outcomes and excessive brutality permeated Wagner and are unlikely to be matched by any successor.’

In Russia, the Kremlin introduced that every one paramilitary fighters would now be obliged to swear an oath to the Russian flag.

They have to pledge ‘loyalty to the Russian Federation… strictly observe their commanders’ and superiors’ orders, and carefully fulfil their obligations’, in keeping with a brand new decree signed by Putin.