Russia’s investigative committee on Sunday confirmed that genetic testing results on body samples recovered at the site of last week’s plane crash confirmed Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin as one of the victims of the unfortunate incident.
As part of the investigation of the plane crash in the Tver region, molecular-genetic examinations have been completed,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
The statement added: “According to their results, the identities of all 10 dead were established. They correspond to the list stated in the flight sheet, corresponding and officially confirming the death of Prigozhin, who Russia’s aviation agency said was listed as a passenger on the private plane.”
Until now, there has been no official confirmation of Mr Prigozhin’s death from the Russian government since the Embraer Legacy 600 jet carrying him and nine others, which included some of his lieutenants and crew members mysteriously, crashed outside Moscow on Wednesday, killing all passengers.
Forensic results have now confirmed the death of everyone on board that plane, which included Dmitry Utkin, Mr Prigozhin’s right-hand man who helped found the Wagner group alongside three crew members.
Meanwhile, authorities in Russia have launched an investigation into the crash, which some sections of the public and Western governments believe was orchestrated by the Kremlin as revenge for a short-lived “mutiny” by Mr Prigozhin and fighters against President Vladimir Putin’s regime one month ago.
The Kremlin has denied any involvement in the plane crash. Mr Putin has since sent his condolences to the victims’ families and hailed Mr Prigozhin as a hero committed to Russia’s cause in Ukraine.