Rumors, Theories Circulate Following Reports of Wagner Boss' Death
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Following reports that a plane crash outside Moscow resulted in the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner mercenary group that staged a short-lived coup against the Russian Federation two months ago, rumors and theories are circulating online regarding the validity of the reports and the potential causes of the crash.
Faked Death? An analysis from The Guardian (Lean Left bias) noted similar reports of Prigozhin dying in a plane crash in 2019. Prigozhin was reported to have died in a plane crash in Africa, but he reappeared a few days later. This instance, plus leaked images of Prigozhin wearing an array of disguises, is leading some to question the initial reports. A Newsweek (Center bias) analysis broke down the various theories regarding a faked death. Noah Rothman (Right bias) dismissed the theories, stating, “given the trajectory of the Wagner mutiny, we can assume neither Prigozhin nor his deputies think too many moves ahead.”
Cause of Crash? Among those accepting reports that Prigozhin died in the crash, the predominant belief is that the plane was intentionally downed by Russian authorities. President Biden told reporters, “There's not much that happens in Russia that Putin's not behind.” The Wagner-affiliated Gray Zone Telegram channel claimed the plane was shot down by air defenses. Others are speculating that a bomb snuck on board caused the crash.
How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum are generally accepting reports of Prigozhin’s death as fact but are also covering suspicion from some voices.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Center
Did Prigozhin Fake His Own Death? Analyzing the Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy theories are swirling around the possible death of notorious Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin after a plane crashed over Russian territory on Wednesday.
Russia's civil aviation authority said that a private jet listing former Kremlin ally Prigozhin as a passenger had crashed north of Moscow, killing all 10 people on board the aircraft. The passengers included Dmitry Utkin, a former Russian officer with the call sign, "Wagner," who is thought to have co-founded the mercenary outfit.
The crash happened two months to the day after Prigozhin led a short-lived...
From the Right
When Falling out of a Window Is Just Too Subtle
Only two months ago, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russia’s private Wagner Group militia, turned his army away from Ukraine’s battlefields and trained them on Russian targets. The Wagner Group executed a stunning advance into Russian territory, sacked the city of Rostov, and advanced north toward Moscow with the stated goal of forcing Vladimir Putin, at gunpoint, to execute some personnel changes in the Ministry of Defense.
The mutiny might have been the most successful armed revolt inside Russia since the Kronstadt uprising. It was certainly the most perilous threat to...
From the Left
Is Yevgeny Prigozhin really dead? Not everyone is convinced
In 2019, Yevgeny Prigozhin was briefly reported to have died after an An-72 transport plane crashed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The embassy said two Russians had been onboard the plane, which was also carrying members of the DRC’s presidential staff.
The Wagner chief reappeared three days later, however, reports of his death having been greatly exaggerated.
As Prigozhin’s business jet crashed on Wednesday in a likely political assassination, there was again an air of doubt or hesitation to declare that the Kremlin-connected businessman could actually be dead...
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