By John Ikani
President Vladimir Putin has mandated that Wagner fighters pledge allegiance to the Russian state following a fatal plane crash, suspected to have claimed the life of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the mercurial head of the private military group.
The decree, enacted on Friday, has been put into immediate effect. The Kremlin refuted Western claims that it was responsible for Prigozhin’s demise, denouncing such allegations as “absolute falsehoods.” The Kremlin refrained from confirming his death definitively, pending test results.
Russia’s aviation authority stated that Prigozhin was aboard a private jet that crashed on Wednesday evening, northwest of Moscow, with no survivors. The incident occurred precisely two months after his leadership role in a failed mutiny against military commanders.
President Putin expressed his condolences to the bereaved families on Thursday, referring to Prigozhin in the past tense. He cited “preliminary information” suggesting the demise of Prigozhin and his principal associates from Wagner, acknowledging Prigozhin’s accomplishments but also acknowledging “serious errors.”
Putin’s introduction of a compulsory oath for Wagner employees and similar private military entities clearly demonstrates an intention to tighten state control over such groups.
The published decree on the Kremlin’s official website dictates that anyone engaged in military work or supporting Moscow’s “special military operation” in Ukraine must pledge formal allegiance to Russia. Framed as an effort to establish the ethical foundation for defending Russia, the oath commits individuals to strictly follow commanders’ orders.
Accusations from Western sources, without substantiating evidence, speculate that Putin ordered Prigozhin’s elimination in retribution for his role in the June 23-34 mutiny against military leadership. This event marked the most substantial challenge to Putin’s rule since his ascension in 1999.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed these allegations and similar ones as false on Friday. He highlighted the abundance of speculative discourse surrounding the plane crash and the tragic fatalities, including Prigozhin’s. Peskov emphasized the importance of relying on established facts rather than conjecture.
Russian investigators initiated a probe into the incident but have yet to pinpoint the cause of the abrupt descent of the aircraft. Moreover, they haven’t officially confirmed the identities of the ten individuals recovered from the wreckage.
Inquiring about official confirmation of Prigozhin’s passing, Peskov replied, “If you carefully listened to the Russian president’s statement, he mentioned that all necessary tests, including genetic tests, will be conducted. Once the official results are prepared, they will be disclosed.”
Peskov, noting that Putin hadn’t recently met Prigozhin, also acknowledged uncertainty regarding the duration of tests and investigative procedures. As such, he deemed it premature to discuss Putin’s potential attendance at Prigozhin’s funeral, considering the lack of established dates and the president’s busy schedule.
Nigel Gould-Davies, a former British ambassador to Belarus now associated with the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), commented on the significance of the funeral. Gould-Davies noted that if Putin wished to emphasize Prigozhin’s demise as that of a traitor, he might choose to overlook it.
Conversely, Prigozhin’s supporters could employ the occasion to eulogize him and his criticism of Kremlin actions, potentially bolstering anti-Kremlin sentiment among Wagner’s core loyalists.
British military intelligence suggested on Friday that definitive proof of Prigozhin’s presence onboard was lacking but considered his death “highly likely.” The Pentagon’s initial assessment aligned with Prigozhin’s demise.
Russia’s Baza news outlet, which maintains reliable connections within law enforcement circles, reported that investigators were exploring the possibility of one or two bombs being planted on the aircraft.
Regarding the future of the Wagner Group, which holds lucrative contracts across Africa and has a presence in Belarus, Peskov remained succinct. He stated, “I am unaware and cannot provide information at present.”
