Parsani

The most realistic versions proving that Prigozhin is (probably) alive:

Fact #1 Despite the fact that there was an identification, there was no genetic expertise because all the relatives suddenly found themselves not in Russia. Besides, what identification can we talk about if the bodies are disfigured and burned. In general, with Wagner's level of conspiracy and capabilities, identification is not an argument. Theoretically, identification is indeed not hard to fudge.

Fact #2 Gasoline to the fire of rumors that Prigozhin is alive was added by Malian journalists who said that they saw the founder of Wagner alive in Mali after the news of the crash. Although there is no proof, only rumors, this is another reason for "I don't believe it!".

Fact #3 The fact that it could have been an act is also indicated by the fact that Prigozhin has already died once before. In Congo in 2019. And also in a plane crash. Then, however, Prigozhin was inferior in popularity to his media namesake, so almost no one knows about it, but the fact remains.

Once again, Prigozhin was "buried" in August 2022. Allegedly he died after shelling the headquarters from Hymers. He was out of contact for several days, he could not be reached. But then he showed up and, as Andrei Bogatov ironically said, "helped search for his body."

Fact #4 Another reason to believe that the whole thing was a setup is the fact that it was very simple. All three commanders of Wagner: Prigozhin, Utkin and Chekalov flew in the same plane, although they had never done this before, flying on different flights, in order to prevent the PMC from being decapitated in one fell swoop, as actually happened. What's what, but they knew it, understood it, and it is inexplicable!

Moreover, Prigozhin, knowing what role he plays, always confused the tracks, could register for one flight, and then fly on another, used doppelgangers. And here we remember the second plane, which landed safely at Ostafievo airport near Moscow.

Fact #5 Before that, it was said that the second plane flew on the same route as the first, from Moscow to St. Petersburg, but in fact it was on a return flight from St. Petersburg to Moscow. Some say that the plane was empty, according to another version, there were two citizens of the Central African Republic (CAR) on the plane. And this is suggestive.

First, in the CAR Prigozhin is almost a national hero. Secondly, in the CAR in a closed village in the PMC "Wagner" has a super-modern clinic and three German plastic surgeons. Thirdly, during the July searches in the St. Petersburg office of "Wagner" a lot of wigs and passports with the photo of Yevgeny Prigozhin and other names and surnames were found. Fourth, organizations associated with Prigozhin have recently been buying up cryptocurrencies. Fifth, the very second flight we started talking about, after landing in Ostafievo, went first to Baku and then to Turkey. And from Turkey it was possible to fly anywhere and disappear, especially taking into account the four points I listed above about the CAR citizens, plastic surgeons, crypts and fake passports. But what was it all for?

Fact #6 As we know, on the day of the disaster, exactly two months had passed since the Wagner rebellion. At the same time, as we remember, despite such a terrible crime as a military mutiny, Prigozhin was cleared of all charges and released to fraternal Belarus, and his mission in Africa in the interests of Russia continued. Strange, isn't it?

What if the President, simply out of friendship and as respect for his services to his country, gave Prigozhin time to finish his business and disappear?

If so, then, considering all of the above, it turned out quite well.

• Vladislav Pozdniakov, Men's State