A Russian network of Internet trolls has begun spreading online messages blaming “enemies in the West” for the plane crash that killed Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner PMC, last week, according to two experts who monitor troll activity, CNN reports.

Prigogine insisted on using trolls to promote messages aimed at disrupting and polarizing Western societies.

His Internet Research Agency, based in St. Petersburg, created hundreds of fake social media accounts to interfere in the politics of other countries, prompting the United States to impose sanctions on Prigozhin in 2018 for meddling in elections.

It is unclear whether the Internet Research Agency still exists, especially in light of US sanctions and the short-lived uprising led by Prigozhin in late June. But two groups of independent analysts – Bot Blocker and Chef’s Trap – analyzed several dozen accounts of Russian trolls on social networks Vkontakte and X, formerly Twitter.

Bot Blocker’s creator, who has not been identified for security reasons, told CNN that he is “extremely convinced” that Prigozhin and his structures remained in charge of the troll accounts until his death.

CNN verified the accounts on the list provided by Bot Blocker. They were united in spreading two themes:

that Putin had no reason to kill Prigozhin, since they would have already solved the problems related to Prigozhin’s rebellion,

and that his supposed death is at the hands of the West, which is resisting the influence of Wagner’s mercenary group in Africa.

According to Bot Blocker, messages with these narratives began to appear on August 23 around 20:00 Moscow time, which coincides with the time when pro-Vagner Telegram channels began to share information about Prigozhin’s death.

Available public reports show that these narratives are still actively circulating. (complete on CNN).

The ex-head of Wagner PMC mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was buried in a private ceremony on Tuesday, Concordia’s press service reported, but the Russian press has already started publishing photos from the grave of the Wagner PMC ex-boss, with policemen and the National Guard standing by. guard of the Porohovsky Cemetery in St. Petersburg.

Prigozhin’s grave in St. Petersburg is guarded by policemen Photo: Olga MALTSEVA / AFP / Profimedia

The funerals were held away from the cameras and in stark contrast to the publicity style in which Prigozhin built his reputation outside of Russia for his brutality and ambition.

• VIDEO The first footage from Prigozhin’s grave: policemen, the National Guard and a poem