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Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko believes that Russian President Vladimir Putin was not involved in the tragedy of the plane crash that killed Yevgeny Prigozhin’s Wagner Group boss. Photo/Brookong Institutes
MINSK – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko believes that his Russian counterpart, President Vladimir Putin, was not involved in the tragedy of the jet crash that killed Wagner mercenary boss Yevneny Prigozhin.
“I know Putin: He is calculating, very calm, even late,” said Lukashenko.
“I can’t imagine Putin doing this, and Putin is to blame. It is too rough and unprofessional work,” he added as quoted by Al Jazeera, Sunday (27/8/2023).
Earlier on Friday, the Kremlin said allegations by Western countries that Prigozhin was killed on his orders were an “absolute lie”, and also refused to confirm the death of the Wagner leader, citing the need to wait for test results.
Commenting on Prigozhin’s death in a plane crash in Russia this week, Lukashenko said Wagner bosses had twice dismissed concerns raised about possible threats to his life.
Lukashenko said that during the uprising, he had warned Prigozhin that he would “die” if he continued towards Moscow, and he said Prigozhin had replied: “’Fuck it – I will die’”.
Then, Lukashenko said, when Prigozhin and Utkin, who helped create Wagner and were also listed as passengers on the crashed plane, came to see him, he had warned them both: “Kids – be careful.”
Lukashenko’s warning, reported by the Belarusian state news agency BelTA, was not so clear as the conversation took place with the Wagner leaders.
Lukashenko, who is an old acquaintance of Prigozhin and a close ally of Russia, said he believed Putin had nothing to do with the plane crash.