Russian mercenary leader involved in mutiny among passengers in plane crash.

Russian Mercenary Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin Listed as Passenger ​on Crashed Private Jet

The Russian authorities have confirmed⁤ that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief ⁢of a Russian mercenary group, was ‌listed‍ as⁣ a passenger on​ a private‌ jet⁣ that crashed north of Moscow on ⁢Wednesday evening. However, ⁣it is yet to be⁢ confirmed if Prigozhin​ was physically on board the aircraft.

“An‌ investigation has been launched into an Embraer plane crash that occurred tonight​ in the Tver region. According to the passenger list, the name and surname of Yevgeny Prigozhin is among them,” Rosaviatsia, Russia’s aviation agency,​ was cited as saying by⁤ the ⁤state TASS ‍news agency.

The ‌private Embraer Legacy aircraft was​ traveling from ​Moscow to St. Petersburg when it crashed ​near the ⁤village of‍ Kuzhenkino in the Tver Region. The Russia’s emergency situations ministry⁤ stated that there were 10⁣ people on board, including 3 crew members. Unfortunately, preliminary information⁤ suggests‍ that there were no survivors.

Prigozhin’s Controversial Background

Yevgeny Prigozhin, aged ‍62, recently led a mutiny ​against Russia’s top army ⁢brass, a⁢ move that President Vladimir⁤ Putin warned could have pushed ⁤the country⁢ into civil war.⁢ The ‍mutiny was ‌eventually resolved through negotiations and a deal that saw Prigozhin agreeing to relocate to neighboring Belarus. However, he has been seen freely moving within Russia ⁣since then.

Just a few days ago, Prigozhin posted‌ a video address, seemingly shot in Africa, where he⁢ expressed his intentions to topple Defense Minister Sergei ‍Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff.

(Reporting by Reuters; editing by Andrew Osborn)