Sure you can make a "deal" with Putin
A picture on Twitter purporting to show the crash scene
Prigozhin led a failed mutiny against the Russian armed forces in June.
The crash comes on the same day that senior Russian general Sergei Surovikin was reportedly sacked as air force chief.
Gen Surovikin was known to have good relations with Prigozhin and had not been seen in public since the mutiny.
The aircraft is said to have come down near the village of Kuzhenkino in Tver region, about half-way between Moscow and St Petersburg.
Grey Zone said local residents heard two bangs before the crash and saw two vapour trails.
Tass news agency said the plane, an Embraer Legacy belonging to Prigozhin, caught fire on hitting the ground.
The aircraft had been in the air for less than half an hour, it added.
An investigation has been launched into the crash and emergency services are searching the scene.
Another news agency, Ria, said eight bodies had been recovered.
Grey Zone reported that a second business jet owned by Prigozhin landed safely in the Moscow region.
The 62-year-old mercenary boss founded Wagner in 2014, and it now has about 25,000 fighters.
The group has been active in Ukraine, Syria and west Africa, and has gained a reputation for brutality.
Prigozhin headed the mutiny on 23-24 June, moving his troops from Ukraine, seizing the southern Russian city of Rostov on Don, and threatening to march on Moscow.
The move came after months of tension with Russian military commanders over the Ukraine conflict.
The stand-off was settled by a deal which allowed Wagner troops to move to Belarus or join the Russian army.
Prigozhin himself agreed to relocate to Belarus but has apparently been able to move freely, making public appearances in Russia and releasing a video of him purportedly in Africa.
But several Russia watchers have described him as a “dead man walking” since the mutiny.
President Putin’s initial reaction to his challenge to Russia’s defence establishment was vitriolic, calling it a betrayal and a stab in the back in a video message on 24 June.
The deal did not mean he was safe.
“Revenge”, commented CIA director William Burns, “is a dish Putin prefers served cold” - or words to that effect.
None of this, of course, is proof that Prigozhin and his entourage were deliberately targeted.
But given the circumstances any claims that his demise, if confirmed, was an accident will see a lot of eyebrows raised.
US White House spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said “no-one should be surprised” if the reports of Prigozhin’s death were confirmed.
He had evidence that would lead to Hillary’s arrest.
Sure you can make a "deal" with Putin
A picture on Twitter purporting to show the crash scene
Who is taking blame/credit for shooting down the plane?
This Lazarus flew too close to the CIA
bird strike
The crash site will be renamed Fort Marcy Park East. :)
That didn’t take long.
I wonder how long he was dead before they loaded him on the plane. In hope the pilot was able to parachute to safety.
Careful, Icarus.
CC
Years ago he was reported dead in the Congo from a plane crash, let’s hope this one takes.
Kinda surprised Putin let him live this long ...
If shot Dow by Putin, as some reports claim, a corresponding question SHOULD be asked of Gen Miley or SecDef. Ideally under oath and co erred by MSM. Would an order to shoot down Trump’s plane be considered an illegal order regardless of circumstances or charges on Trump, in contrast with how Russia appears to deal with dissidents. No hemming or declining to answer hypotheticals should be allowed. The only acceptable answer should be a reflexive “that would be considered an illegal order.”
What you have to accept is that there are just lots of accidental deaths of Russian leaders, oligarchs, and military chieftans who oppose Putin.
Most often the accidents are defenestration or falls from helicopters, but entire plane crashes are also known to occur from time to time.
It is a naturally occurring phenomenon in Russia.
“The target is destroyed.”
Could have been a mistake by the missile defense group mistaking his plane for an Uke drone or missile.
