Bodies, flight recorders found after Wagner crash: Investigators
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Emergency specialists carry a body bag near wreckages of the private jet at the crash site in the Tver region, Russia, on Aug 24, 2023.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW – Russian investigators said on Friday they recovered flight recorders and 10 bodies from the scene of a plane crash thought to have killed Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin
An investigation is under way into what caused Wednesday’s crash, which came exactly two months after Wagner’s short-lived rebellion against Moscow’s military leadership.
“In the course of initial investigative work, the bodies of 10 victims were found at the site of the plane crash,” Russia’s Investigative Committee said.
“Molecular genetic analyses are being carried out to establish their identities,” it added. Flight recorders were also recovered.
Since the crash which also claimed the lives of some of Mr Prigozhin’s close entourage, many Western countries and Kremlin critics have speculated that he could have been assassinated.
The Kremlin has called the incident “tragic” and dismissed rumours of possible foul play as an “absolute lie”.
Russian officials said they opened a probe into violations of air traffic rules but have otherwise been silent about what may have caused the incident. AFP
