The decision to keep secret the funeral of Wagner’s rogue mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was made by top Kremlin officials and security services who could not forgive him for the “insult” inflicted on the regime by his recent rebellion, according to a report.
Prigozhin, 62, was buried Tuesday in a private ceremony at a cemetery on the outskirts of St. Petersburg – just days after his private jet crashed in the Tver region, killing all 10 people on board.
“The purpose is to ensure that when the coffin with Prigozhin’s body is lowered into the grave, there are no mass gatherings of citizens, mercenaries and sympathizers around, as well as no posts and photos on social media from the entrance to the cemetery,” two Russian officials spoke on condition of anonymity to the Moscow Times.
The rebel warlord’s final farewell was the subject of several meetings involving senior Kremlin officials, led by first deputy chief of staff Sergei Kiriyenko, along with FSB and intelligence officials, the official claimed.
Kremlin officials and Russian security service officials have decided to keep Yevgeny Prigozhin’s funeral a secret this week, according to government officials. AFP via Getty Images
Prigozhin, 62, was seen in a video recorded just days before his death and released this week by a Telegram channel linked to the Wagner Group. via REUTERS
The plan that emerged from the meeting was to cover up Prigozhin’s funeral in an effort to prevent unrest and protests.
The security services were allegedly tasked with misleading the public about the burial site.
In an effort to sow confusion, preparations are reportedly being made at several burial sites across St. Petersburg and even one in Moscow — but the Porokhovskoye cemetery, where Prigozhin was actually eventually buried, was not mentioned in any of the news reports.
The location of Prigozhin’s grave was not revealed until after his funeral — even then, dozens of security officers remained at the scene guarding the area.
Prigozhin and nine others were killed in an unexplained plane crash in the Tver region on August 23. AP
Prigozhin’s death came exactly two months after his brief rebellion against Russian military leaders. AP
Prigozhin’s death, which came exactly two months after his brief military mutiny, appeared to rattle the Kremlin after provoking grief from the public.
“Prigozhin, with his demands for justice, sharp and often true statements, evoked emotions among the Russian people and as the official Hero of Russia, and as the ‘people’s hero.’ Do we need heroes marching in Moscow? No,” a government official told the Moscow Times.
Several makeshift memorials honoring the notoriously brutal and blunt head of the Wagner Group have popped up across Russia, attracting mourners with flowers and mercenary-themed memorabilia.
The Kremlin reportedly kept the location of Prigozhin’s funeral a secret, and his funeral on Tuesday was attended by only 20 to 30 people. Reuters
“It’s not even a matter of betrayal here, but a matter of humiliation. I think the national leadership cannot forgive him,” said another officer.
President Vladimir Putin famously labeled Prigozhin a “traitor” during his uprising aimed at ousting Russia’s military leadership – before agreeing to drop all charges against the mercenaries as part of a negotiated ceasefire.
Having been awarded the title of “Hero of Russia” in his lifetime, Prigozhin had every right to expect a grand funeral, complete with a guard of honor, the national flag, a military band and a gun salute.
On the other hand, Prigozhin’s memorial lacks the pomp and circumstance that befits his “hero” status. The whole affair lasted about 40 minutes and was attended by a dozen relatives and friends, the independent outlet Agentstvo reported.
Wagner Group co-founder Dmitry Utkin was buried on the outskirts of Moscow Thursday. Reuters
On Thursday, Prigozhin’s second-in-command and co-founder of the Wagner Group, Dmitry Utkin, was buried on the outskirts of Moscow.
Utkin, 53 – whose nickname, “Wagner,” gave his name to the private soldier – was buried in Mytishchi, in a ceremony surrounded by Russian military police, the Telegram Shot news channel reported.
The Kremlin slammed as “absolute lies” the claims made by Western commentators that Putin ordered the death of Prigozhin and his men.
The unexplained plane crash is being investigated by Russia’s Investigative Committee, which sees the possibility that it was caused by “deliberate misconduct.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
