Russian investigators have confirmed that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder and head of the notorious Wagner Group, was among the 10 people killed in a plane crash last week. Prigozhin led a short-lived armed rebellion against Russia's military, which President Vladimir Putin condemned as "treason" and swiftly quelled through negotiations. Despite the official confirmation of Prigozhin's death, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding the crash and whether it was an intentional act. The crash occurred two months after the mutiny, which saw Prigozhin and his mercenaries march towards Moscow before turning back. The Russian elite is now on notice that challenging Putin's authority comes with severe consequences, regardless of the target of the challenge. Prigozhin's demise highlights the regime's zero-tolerance policy for dissent.

Sources:

- CNN: "Ethics"

- NPR: "Russia says it has confirmed Yevgeny Prigozhin died in last week's plane crash"

- Reuters: "Russia says genetic tests confirm Prigozhin died in plane crash"