A recently released video of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Russian mercenary boss purports to show him in Africa a few days before his apparent death, conveying an assumption about his well-being and likely threats to his safety.
In the brief video published by the Grey Zone Telegram channel, Prigozhin said that for those who are concerned about whether I’m alive or not, how I’m doing – right now it’s the weekend, second half of August 2023, I’m in Africa.
With his waving hand, he added that so for somebody who likes to be concerned about wiping me out, or my personal life, how much I gain, or whatever else – everything’s ok.
Reuters was not able to confirm the spot or the date of the video, which was recorded in a moving vehicle. Prigozhin’s clothing and hat, as well as his watch on the right hand, matched his impression in footage released on August 21, which he also said was recorded in Africa.
His “weekend” reference indicated the latest video must have been shot on August 19 or 20, a few days before he and other leading Wagner figures and bodyguards lost their lives in a plane crash north of Moscow on August 23.
His words in the video echoed Prigozhin’s attention to the threats to his life.
His Wagner force opposed Russia in the Ukraine war but he was fiercely necessary of the defense establishment and conducted a short rebellion in late June.
On Tuesday, Prigozhin was buried at the Porokhovskoye graveyard in his hometown of St. Petersburg.
