Kremlin says 'deliberate wrongdoing' among possible causes of plane crash
Prigozhin last week, the Kremlin's spokesperson said Wednesday.
Speaking to reporters during his daily conference call, presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said that «different versions» of what happened exist and «are being considered» by Russian investigators, including, «let's put this way, deliberate wrongdoing.»
A business jet carrying Prigozhin, the founder and leader of the his top lieutenants crashed halfway between Moscow and St. Petersburg a week ago, killing all seven passengers and three crew members.
The Interstate Aviation Committee, the Moscow-headquartered body that oversees civil aviation in most former Soviet republics, said in an online statement Wednesday that it was not currently investigating the crash, although the agency has an accident investigation division.
No crash probe under global rules
Peskov said there can't be an international investigation into why the plane plummeted from the sky and he urged reporters to wait for the Russian Investigative Committee to complete its review. The committee said last week that it opened a criminal case to look into possible flight safety violations, a standard procedure in Russia when there is no immediate reason to suspect foul play.
The crash occurred exactly two months after denied involvement in the crash.
Prigozhin, 62, was buried in St. Petersburg, his hometown, in a private ceremony that was shrouded in secrecy until Tuesday evening, when his spokespeople revealed the location of his grave.
Western officials and analysts expect the private Wagner army to continue operating, particularly in the Sahel region of Africa, where Russian mercenaries have provided security against extremist organizations like al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
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