A newly released video of Wagner’s Russian mercenary boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is said to show him in Africa days before his death, suggesting possible threats to his security, Reuters and News.ro reported.
“For those who wonder if I’m alive or not, how I feel – it’s the weekend, the second half of August 2023, I’m in Africa,” Prigozhin says in a short video published by the Gray Zone Telegram channel. , which is associated with his Wagner group.
“So for those who like to discuss my liquidation, my private life, how much I earn or anything else: everything is fine,” he adds, gesturing with his hand at the footage, which was also compiled by NEXTA TV, the channel he founded. former Belarusian dissident Roman Protasevich.
Reuters says it was unable to verify the location or date of the video, which was taken in a moving vehicle. However, Prigozhin’s camouflage clothing and cap, as well as the watch on his right hand, match his appearance in the video released on August 21, which he also claimed was filmed in Africa.
His reference to “the weekend” would mean that the video must have been made on August 19 or 20, just three or four days before he and other senior figures in Wagner’s group, along with four bodyguards, were killed in a plane crash north of Moscow , August 23.
Prigozhin’s latest video
He drove around Africa in an SUV with a window for return fire. Ironically, in the recording he talked about the rumors about his liquidation – assured that everything is fine.
“For those debating whether I’m alive or not, how I’m doing… This… pic.twitter.com/97nOTZIUO3
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) August 31, 2023
The Kremlin declared a “deliberate atrocity” in connection with Prigozhin’s death
On the other hand, his comments on the video allegedly indicate that Prigozhin was aware of the risks to his life. His unit of Wagner mercenaries fought on the Russian side in the war in Ukraine, but he was fiercely critical of the command of the regular Russian army and led a military revolt against it in late June.
The Kremlin dismissed as “absolute lies” suggestions that President Vladimir Putin had ordered the killing of Prigozhin out of revenge, but said on the other hand that the crash investigation was also looking into the possibility of a deliberate accident.
“It is clear that various versions are being considered, including the version – and you understand what I’m talking about – of, say, a deliberate atrocity,” Kremlin spokesman Dmytro Peskov told Russian journalists on Wednesday.
Prigozhin was discreetly laid to rest on Tuesday at the Porohovsky Cemetery in his hometown of St. Petersburg.
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Source: Hot News
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