President Vladimir Putin will not attend the funeral of Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Kremlinsaid Tuesday.Prigozhin was one of the 10 people on board his private jet when it crashed in the Tver region northwest of Moscow last Wednesday.
Russian authoritiesconfirmed Prigozhins death on Sunday.The president is not expected to attend [Prigozhins funeral], Putins spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.We dont have any information about the funeral.
After all, its up to the family and friends to decide on this matter.
We cant say anything here without them, he added.Prigozhins death came two months after he launched a short-lived mutiny against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and army chief Gen.
Valery Gerasimov on June 23-24, marking the biggest threat yet to Putins rule.The timing of the Aug.
23 jet crash has fueled speculation of Putins involvement, which Peskov denied as absolute lies.Prigozhin is expected to be buried with military honors given his involvement in Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the Hero of Russia medal he was known to have received in secret.The timing and location of Prigozhins funeral remains shrouded in mystery, with analysts suggesting the Kremlin and security services arecautious about stirring unrest during the procession.Police on Tuesdaycordoned off at least two cemeteries in Prigozhins hometown, St.
Petersburg, but have declined to confirm whether they did so in preparation for Prigozhins funeral, according to the local news website Fontanka.Russian officials opened an investigation into air traffic violations after the crash but have otherwise not disclosed details about its possible cause.Prigozhin, who had built his fortune through lucrative catering contracts for the Kremlin and other state enterprises, was widely seen as having represented Russia's interests in conflict zones around the world with his Wagner Group.Wagner has been accused of war crimes and human rights abuses in the countries where it has operated.During the invasion of Ukraine, he and Wagner entered the spotlight as a force fighting alongside the Russian military, with Prigozhin's criticism of Russia's top brass intensifying up until the point of his June mutiny.