– The mafia character of the Putin regime is becoming very clear now. I think this is an expression of weakness – the regime is showing some cracks, Aage Borchgrevink, senior advisor in the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and author of the book “The Warlord in the Kremlin”, tells news. He points out that Prigozhin’s death has not been officially confirmed yet, but would not be surprised if the Wagner chief now received his “punishment” for the failed uprising against the Russian defense leadership in June. Aage Borchgrevink, senior adviser at the Norwegian Helsinki Committee, says murder is a common tool in the Kremlin’s toolbox. Photo: NTB / NTB – Made Putin look stupid – Putin said on TV that he was a traitor. It was more surprising that a couple of days ago he was in Africa as if nothing had happened, says Borchgrevink. – Is it surprising that he might be killed so soon after apparently being in Africa? – No, I don’t think so. I think he made Putin look stupid, and that’s how a lot of people who have challenged the Kremlin in different ways have been killed. It is a very common tool in the toolbox. Here, Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin is allegedly in Africa on 22 August. The next day he may have been killed. Photo: AFP Ten dead reported Ten people are said to have died in the plane crash in Russia, several Russian news agencies report. The Wagner group writes on Telegram that leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and founder Dmitry Utkin are both dead. The Wagner group refers to pro-Russian official Vladimir Rogov in the Zaporizhzhya region. The Russian website Fontanka in St. Petersburg confirms, citing its sources, that Prigozhin was on board the downed private plane. With him was also the entire leadership of the private mercenary group Wagner, including Utkin. The information from the Russian media is reproduced by the AFP news agency. – Good timing Tom Røseth, head teacher in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy, believes that it seems to have been confirmed that Prigozjin was on board the plane. He says it will now be exciting to know how the plane crashed. – One suspects that it is sabotage. I will make a small reservation, but this is very convenient for Moscow, says Røseth. Tom Røseth, head teacher in intelligence at the Norwegian Defense Academy. Photo: Dan Henrik Klausen / news He believes that assassination of Prigozhin is more convenient now than right after the failed uprising earlier this year. – Then Prigozhin had hero status in Russia. He had several thousand soldiers under his command. It was wise of Russia to take some time before they discredited him, he says and adds: – The timing is good. It can be difficult to conclude that it was an assassination attempt, or whether it was a technical failure.
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– Putin’s mafia character has become clear – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
