Kremlin: Russian president Putin to miss funeral of Wagner Mercenary Chief

Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be attending the funeral of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group who died in a plane crash last week, as confirmed by the Kremlin on Tuesday.

Prigozhin, a former Putin confidant turned “traitor,” was killed in a plane crash on Wednesday, just two months after he had reportedly ordered his forces to attempt to overthrow Russia’s military leadership. This audacious move was seen by observers as one of the most significant challenges to Putin’s authority since he assumed power.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed reporters on Tuesday that Putin’s presence at the funeral is not scheduled. When questioned about Putin’s potential attendance, Peskov responded, “The president’s presence is not envisaged.”

Details regarding the timing and location of Prigozhin’s burial have not been publicly disclosed. Peskov explained, “We have no information specifically about the funeral. The decision in this regard is made by family and friends.”

Last week, Putin acknowledged Prigozhin’s controversial history, describing him as someone who had made “serious mistakes in his life, but he achieved the right results.”

The Kremlin has rejected suggestions that the plane crash was orchestrated as a form of retaliation for the Wagner mercenary group’s purported actions, including an attempted advance on Moscow in June.