The Kremlin on Wednesday ruled out the possibility of international institutions participating in the investigation into the crash of the plane on which the head of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was traveling.
The Kremlin today ruled out the possibility of international institutions participating in the investigation of the plane crash in which the head of the Wagner group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was traveling.
“Investigations are being conducted by the Russian Commission of Inquiry. President (Russian Vladimir) Putin has already referred to this. Therefore, there is no possibility of an international investigation in this case,” said Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
According to the Kremlin spokesman, “there are several versions, including a premeditated malicious act,” and therefore the investigation will not be conducted in the same way as a simple plane crash.
“Let’s wait for the results of the investigation,” added Peskov.
The independent digital newspaper Meduza reported, without disclosing its sources, that the Interstate Aviation Committee — a Moscow-based entity that investigates incidents and accidents in the post-Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) — will not investigate this matter, with respect for international regulations.
According to the international media, the Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents in Brazil (Cenipa) and the Brazilian Aeronautics Company (EMBRAER), the manufacturer of the damaged aircraft, were available to participate in the investigation of the accident.
The Embraer plane in which Prigozhin was traveling along with nine other passengers, some senior officers of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, crashed in the Tver region a week ago, while flying between Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Russian authorities have identified all passengers and crew on the plane, including Prigozhin, who was buried on Tuesday in a ceremony under strict security measures.
So far, no official information has been given about the causes of the incident, but one of the main versions is the explosion of a bomb on board.
Some Prigozhin supporters, the exile opposition and the international media blame Putin for the death of the head of the Wagner mercenary group, which rebelled against the Kremlin two months ago.
Source: DN
