Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Sergei Ryabkov has criticized U.S President Joe Biden for his “not surprised” comment on the presumed death of Wagner mercenary Chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Yevgeny was reportedly killed when the Embraer aircraft carrying him and nine others crashed on Wednesday, August 23, 2023 evening near the village of Kuzhenkino in the Tver Region.
After a briefing following the crash of Prigozhin’s private jet, which was on its way to St Petersburg from Moscow, Biden said, “I don’t know for a fact what happened, but I’m not surprised.”
Biden added, “There’s not much that happens in Russia that Putin’s not behind. But I don’t know enough to know the answer.”
Ryabkov said that such remarks were an indicator of Washington’s disregard for diplomacy.
“Still, it is not for the U.S President, in my opinion, to talk about such tragic events of this kind,” The Russian Foreign Minister averred.
Also on Friday, August 25, 2023, Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, in a call with reporters, disclosed that Western suggestions that Prigozhin had been killed on the Kremlin’s orders and other “speculation”, were an “absolute lie.”
“There is a lot of speculation around the plane crash and the tragic death of the passengers, including Yevgeny Prigozhin. Of course, in the West those speculations are put out under a certain angle, and All this is an absolute lie.”
Dmitry Peskov
Peskov noted that an investigation into the plane is ongoing, adding that President Vladimir Putin had not met Prigozhin recently.
“When covering this issue, it is necessary to base yourself on facts. There are not many facts yet. They need to be established in the course of investigative actions.”
Dmitry Peskov
The Wagner mercenary Group, according to Peskov, has no formal legal existence. He said that Wagner exists as a group that has made a “big contribution” to Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine, and he praised its fighters’ “heroism.”
The Kremlin Spokesman also stated that it was impossible to say whether Putin would attend the funeral of Prigozhin and that the President had “a very full schedule.”
Since the presumed death of Yevgeny Prigozhin was reported, a lot of people have pointed to the possibility of Putin being involved. For instance, Polish Foreign Minister, Zbigniew Rau suggested that the plane crash was not a coincidence.
“… We would have great trouble naming anyone who would intuitively think this was a coincidence. It so happens that political opponents whom Vladimir Putin considers a threat to his power do not die naturally.”
Zbigniew Rau
Similarly, The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington DC-based think tank, noted in a statement that Putin “almost certainly” ordered Russia’s military command to shoot down the plane.
Wagner Future Unknown To Peskov
During the call, Peskov admitted that the future of the Wagner group is unknown to him.
“When it comes to the future (of Wagner), I can’t tell you anything — I don’t know,” Peskov said.
In a statement, Britain’s defense ministry noted on Friday that the supposed death of Wagner Boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin could have adverse effects on the mercenary group.
“The demise of Prigozhin almost certainly would have a deeply destabilizing effect on the Wagner Group,” it said.
Meanwhile, The Polish Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki opined on Thursdasy, August 24, 2023, that the Wagner group is likely to come under Putin’s control.
“The Wagner group comes under Putin’s leadership. Let everyone answer the question for themselves – will the threat be bigger or smaller? For me, that’s a rhetorical question.”
Mateusz Morawiecki
