Russia will not investigate the plane crash that killed Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin under international rules, Reutersreported Tuesday, citing Brazils aircraft investigation authority.Brazils Center for Research and Prevention of Aeronautical Accidents (CENIPA) contacted Russian authorities last week to askwhether they would open a probe into the crash under UN civil aviation rules, according to Reuters.Russian authorities told CENIPA that they had no plans for such an investigation "at the moment," the Brazilian air authority told Reuters.
CENIPA noted that Moscow is "not obliged, only recommended" to conduct the probe under international rules.But aviation safety experts say Russia's decision to shun offers to conduct a probe together withCENIPA will only fuel speculation of the Kremlins involvement in the crash.Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has called rumors of possible foul play in Prigozhins death an absolute lie.Prigozhin was among the 10 people on board the Brazilian-made Embraer Legacy 600 jet when it crashed in the Tver region northwest of Moscow last week.
Russian authorities confirmed Prigozhins death on Sunday.Russian officials opened their own investigation into air traffic violations after the Aug.
23 crash, but they have otherwise not disclosed details about its possible cause.
Peskov has vowed topublish the results of Russias investigation into the incident when they are ready.An internal investigation into the crash will hurt the transparency of Russias own probe of Prigozhins death, United States aviation safety consultant John Cox and ex-United States air crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti told Reuters.