Newly released video footage has raised questions about the reported death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the boss of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organization.
The video, which was released on a Telegram channel linked to Prigozhin's group, shows him bragging about surviving assassination attempts. This has fueled speculation that he may still be alive.
In the video, Prigozhin, who is believed to have died in a plane crash, can be seen wearing camouflage clothing and a matching hat. He also wears a watch on his right wrist, which matches his appearance in a video released on August 21 from Africa. This video was his first public address since being branded a "traitor" by President Vladimir Putin for his involvement in a mutiny in June. It was also his last public appearance before the plane crash.
Prigozhin's comments in the video suggest that it was filmed between August 19 and August 20, just days before the crash. The video was posted without any details about when or where it was filmed.
The Grey Zone Telegram channel, which released the video, had previously shared what it claimed were some of Prigozhin's "last" photos from Africa. These photos showed him posing with a large group of young black men. The accompanying post stated that the photos were taken in the Central African Republic shortly before his departure for Russia.
While the Grey Zone channel did not explicitly state that Prigozhin is still alive, the timing of the video's release and his comments about surviving "liquidation" attempts have only fueled existing conspiracy theories. One such theory, shared by Dr. Valery Solovey, a former professor at Moscow State Institute of International Relations, suggests that Prigozhin was not on the crashed jet and that a body double was used instead. Solovey claims that Putin is aware of this and that the real Wagner chief is "alive, well, and free." Solovey also suggests that Prigozhin plans to seek revenge against those who planned to destroy him.
The Russian Investigative Committee, which is investigating the plane crash, has confirmed through genetic testing that Prigozhin was among the 10 people who died in the crash. He was laid to rest in a private ceremony in St. Petersburg on Tuesday.
The Kremlin has denied the suggestion that Putin had Prigozhin killed as payback for his involvement in the mutiny. However, the investigation into the crash is looking into the possibility of deliberate wrongdoing.
The release of this video has only added to the intrigue surrounding Prigozhin's reported death. With conflicting theories and unanswered questions, the truth about what happened to the Wagner Group boss remains uncertain.
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