Yevgeny Prigozhin predicted his death in a plane crash four months before the aircraft crashed in Russia, it has emerged.
Suspicions are running high in Western countries and Ukraine regarding the involvement of Putin in the assassination of Prigozhin, a former associate of the president and a prominent figure in the Wagner private military group.
Russian authorities vehemently deny these claims, labelling them as "outright falsehoods." Meanwhile, the Kremlin announced that the specifics of Prigozhin's funeral, including the date and arrangement, are yet to be determined and will primarily be decided by his family.
However, a distinct video has surfaced, recorded four months prior, in which Prigozhin subtly alludes to the possibility of his demise in a plane crash. He also draws a parallel between Russia under Putin's leadership and an aircraft teetering on the edge of disaster, with the potential to disintegrate while still in flight.
“I have no right to lie before the people who will live in this country [Russia],” he said. “You better kill me. Russia today stands on the brink of a catastrophe. If these screws are not adjusted today, then the whole plane will fall apart in the sky.”
Putin accused of surrounding himself with same 'actors' at series of eventsThis comes as the infamous Russian General Sergei 'Armageddon' Surovikin could be the next target of an assassination plot, according to Russian state television.
During a prime-time program, a prominent advocate for Vladimir Putin conveyed a message that the recently dismissed military commander, who has vanished amidst speculations of his arrest, might suddenly succumb to a "heart attack." This warning was issued by Igor Markov, a former member of the Ukrainian parliament who now fervently supports the Kremlin's leader and his actions.
Markov’s TV warning on Surovikin’s possible demise was abruptly censored by the Kremlin and removed from videos of the broadcast on Vladimir Solovyov’s propaganda show. This was despite Markov absurdly claiming British intelligence was likely responsible for downing Prigozhin’s plane and implying they could similarly be behind a plot to assassinate Surovikin.
The Kremlin was happy for its mouthpiece TV to blame MI6 for Prigozhin’s demise - but evidently balked at the idea that Surovikin could soon mysteriously die. This part of his rant was cut.
War fanatic Markov said: “Only the special services…were capable of [downing Yevgeny Prigozhin’s jet]. The United States and Britain… destroying a civilian aircraft on Russian territory… I have no doubt that this is the handwriting of the British. Cynical, arrogant, you know, very precise…” But the following words were axed.
“I will say even more,” he said. “The last thing we need now is [General Sergei ‘Armageddon’] Surovikin to die of a heart attack. I'm not kidding in this case. He needs to be very careful… They will do it… Our special services need to watch this very carefully.” He spoke on the Russian state TV channel Rossiya 1.
Putin last week fired notoriously ruthless commander, Surovikin, 56, as head of his aerospace forces. He was seen as too close to Prigozhin, and suspected of colluding with the Wagner chief in the June coup bid against the Kremlin.
Surovikin - seen as Russia’s ablest but also cruellest general - is assumed to have earlier lost his other role as deputy to armed forces chief General Valery Gerasimov, who is also Putin’s overall war commander. During the mutiny father-of-four Surovikin was summoned back from the war zone to Moscow.
He issued a video calling on the Wagner mutineers to lay down their arms and halt a march on Moscow - the last time he was seen. Defence minister Sergei Shoigu is seen to be the prime mover against his ‘enemy’ Surovikin, and is also suspected of acting against Prigozhin, 62.