Wagner Leader Prigozhin Alive and in Exile, Claims Russian Analyst

A shocking claim has emerged from a Russian political analyst that the notorious warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner private army, is not dead as widely reported, but alive and in hiding in a foreign country.

According to Dr Valery Solovey, a former professor at a prestigious Russian spy school, Prigozhin escaped an assassination attempt ordered by President Vladimir Putin and used a body double to fake his death in a plane crash last week.

The Failed Assassination Plot

Dr Solovey, who is known for his outspoken criticism of the Kremlin, alleges that the Russian authorities lied about Prigozhin’s DNA being found at the crash site in Tver region, while knowing that the real target of the attack had eluded them.

He says that Prigozhin, who had fallen out with Putin over his meddling in Africa and other regions, was aware of the plot and switched places with his double before boarding the plane.

The plane, which was carrying 14 people including Prigozhin’s associates and security guards, was shot down by a Russian air defence system, according to Dr Solovey.

He challenges the US intelligence claims that the plane was destroyed by a blast on board. “There was no explosion on board. It was downed from the outside,” he said.

“The secret operation to carry out this strike was developed in [Russia’s] Security Council, and was sanctioned personally by the Russian president [Vladimir Putin].”

The Mysterious Exile

Dr Solovey claims that Prigozhin is now “alive, well, and free” in an unnamed country, where he is plotting his revenge against Putin and his allies.

He says he will reveal Prigozhin’s supposed country of exile early next month but denies it is in Africa where the Wagner private army has multiple interests.

Dr Solovey also suggests that Prigozhin has access to some of Russia’s nuclear secrets and may use them to blackmail or threaten the Kremlin.

Meanwhile, the Russian authorities have staged a funeral for Prigozhin at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, where only close relatives and friends were allowed to attend.

Putin did not attend the funeral and did not offer any condolences to Prigozhin’s family. Dr Solovey says that Putin is aware that Prigozhin is still alive and is afraid of his potential retaliation.

The Controversial Warlord

Prigozhin was one of Russia’s most powerful and influential figures, who rose from being a hot dog seller to a billionaire businessman with close ties to Putin.

He was nicknamed “Putin’s chef” because he catered for the president’s lavish banquets and events.

Prigozhin was also accused of being behind Russia’s interference in the 2016 US presidential election and other cyber attacks around the world.

He was the founder and leader of the Wagner Group, a private military company that operates in various conflict zones such as Syria, Libya, Sudan, Central African Republic, Mozambique and others.

The Wagner Group has been accused of committing human rights violations, war crimes and atrocities against civilians and opponents.

Prigozhin has denied any links to the Wagner Group and any involvement in Russia’s foreign policy.

However, Prigozhin’s death was widely celebrated by his enemies and critics, who saw him as a threat to global peace and security.

Meanwhile, if Dr Solovey’s claim is true, then Prigozhin may still pose a danger to Russia and the world.

Source: Daily Mail