Tallinn, Aug 27 (AP) Yevgeny Prigozhin smiled as a crowd of adoring followers surrounded his black SUV on June 24 in Russia’s southern metropolis of Rostov-on-Don and cheered him on.

“You rock!” followers shouted whereas taking selfies with the chief of the Wagner mercenary group, who was sitting within the automobile after dusk. “You’re a lion! Hang in there!”

Prigozhin and his masked, camouflage-clad fighters have been leaving the town after a daylong mutiny towards the nation’s army management. President Vladimir Putin decried it as “treason” and vowed punishment, however then minimize a deal to not prosecute Prigozhin. Beyond that, his destiny appeared unsure.

Two months later, on August 23, Prigozhin’s enterprise jet plummeted from the sky and crashed in a subject midway between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Everyone aboard was killed, presumably together with Prigozhin and a few of his prime lieutenants.

The two scenes, which unfolded simply two months aside, present bookends to the mystery-shrouded closing days of the outspoken, brutal mercenary chief who initially appeared to have escaped any retribution for the rise up that posed the best problem to Putin’s authority in his 23-year rule.

Suspicions instantly arose that the Kremlin was behind the crash and that it was vengeance. The Kremlin denied it.

In on-camera remarks eulogising Prigozhin, the Russian president sought to point out that there was no unhealthy blood between them.

He described the pinnacle of Wagner as “a talented man” whom he had recognized for a very long time and who made “serious mistakes” however was nonetheless apparently doing enterprise with the federal government.

The final weeks of Prigozhin’s life have been overshadowed by questions on what the Kremlin actually had in retailer for him. Had he already dodged a bullet? Or was his comeuppance simply additional down the highway?

Shortly earlier than footage emerged of Prigozhin driving off into the night time in Rostov-on-Don, the Kremlin introduced a deal to finish the mutiny.

Prigozhin would “retreat to Belarus,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated, with out elaborating on whether or not that meant a everlasting exile.

Prigozhin himself went silent, which was uncommon for a person who used to launch a number of written and spoken statements day-after-day.

Responding to an electronic mail from The Associated Press on June 25, the day after the mutiny, Prigozhin’s press service stated solely that he “says hi to everyone” and would reply to all questions as soon as he will get “proper connection.”

An elaborate 11-minute assertion from Prigozhin appeared the following day, nevertheless it contained nothing about the place he was or what was subsequent for him and his forces.

Instead, he defended himself and the mutiny in his typical defiant and bullish method.

He stated his march on Moscow began due to an injustice — an alleged assault on his fighters in Ukraine by the Russian army.

He taunted the army, calling Wagner’s march a “master class” in how authorities troopers ought to have carried out the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. He identified safety breaches that allowed Wagner to advance 780 kilometres (500 miles) with out resistance and to dam all army items on its method.

The following morning, on June 27, Russian authorities introduced they have been dropping the felony investigation into the revolt, with no costs for the Wagner chief nor another contributors — despite the fact that a few dozen Russian troops have been killed in clashes and several other army plane have been shot down.

Later within the day, Putin hinted that there may be a brand new probe — this time into Prigozhin’s funds.

The Russian chief instructed a army gathering that the state paid Wagner virtually USD 1 billion in only one 12 months, whereas Prigozhin’s different firm earned about the identical from authorities contracts. Putin questioned aloud whether or not any of it was stolen and promised to “figure it out.”

On the day the costs have been dropped, Prigozhin’s aircraft was noticed in Belarus, and Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who helped dealer the deal to finish the mutiny, stated the Wagner chief had arrived.

Belarusian activists quickly reported {that a} camp was being erected there for fighters who determined to comply with him.

In Russia, Prigozhin’s main enterprise asset — a media firm known as Patriot — shut down, and lots of the information retailers it owned have been blocked by authorities. Prigozhin’s media operations included the notorious “troll factory” that led to his indictment within the US for meddling within the 2016 presidential election.

Wagner additionally introduced a halt to recruitment of recent mercenaries “due to the move to Belarus.”

On July 6, nonetheless, Lukashenko instructed reporters that Prigozhin was in St. Petersburg — or “maybe he went to Moscow, or maybe somewhere else, but he is not in Belarus.” The remarks got here amid media reviews that money and tools seized throughout police searches of Prigozhin’s property have been returned to him.

“What will happen to him next? Well, anything can happen in a lifetime. But if you think that Putin is so malicious and vindictive that he will be offed somewhere tomorrow. … No, this will not happen,” Lukashenko assured.

As it turned out, Putin met with Prigozhin a number of days after the revolt.

Peskov, Putin’s spokesperson, instructed reporters on July 10 that the assembly came about within the Kremlin and concerned greater than 30 Wagner commanders along with Prigozhin. The revelation got here after Peskov repeatedly stated the Kremlin knew nothing about Prigozhin’s whereabouts — together with on the day of the assembly with Putin, June 29.

Putin’s spokesperson would not provide any particulars in regards to the assembly, saying solely that the commanders pledged their loyalty to the Russian president.

Putin later echoed that concept, saying in a July 13 interview that “many were nodding” when he provided to allow them to proceed serving below one of many Wagner commanders. But a defiant Prigozhin spoke for them and stated they did not just like the proposal, in line with the Russian president.

Comments from the Wagner chief himself turned uncommon. Nothing extra was posted by his spokespeople past the 11-minute audio message issued two days after the mutiny.

Words or visuals of Prigozhin as an alternative appeared in one among a number of Telegram channels believed to be linked to Wagner.

The relative quiet raised questions over whether or not holding a low public profile was a part of his take care of the Kremlin.

One such video on July 19 reportedly got here from Belarus. Blurry footage confirmed a silhouette of a person trying like Prigozhin towards the sky at nightfall, and his distinctive gravelly voice was heard addressing rows of males in fatigues.

“Welcome guys! I am happy to greet you all. Welcome to Belarusian land!” he stated.

Prigozhin repeated his criticism of the conduct of the combating in Ukraine.

“What is going on the frontline today is a shame in which we shouldn’t take part,” he stated, including that Wagner forces may return to Ukraine sooner or later.

In the meantime, Prigozhin stated, Wagner would practice in Belarus after which set off on a brand new journey to Africa, the place his mercenaries have been lively in a number of international locations.

Another video, posted on August 21 in a distinct Telegram channel, confirmed a close-up of Prigozhin toting a rifle whereas standing on a dusty plain.

Prigozhin did not say the place the video was recorded, however he referenced the temperature being 50 levels Celsius (122 levels Fahrenheit).

“Just the way we like it,” he boasted. He said Wagner was “making Russia even greater on all continents and Africa even more free.”

Two days later came the plane crash — exactly two months after Priogzhin first announced his revolt.

Although the Kremlin rejected allegations that it was behind the crash, the reality of those two months likely didn’t sit well with Putin, political analyst Abbas Gallyamov said.

The mutiny “showcased Putin’s weakness to everyone,” stated Gallyamov, who as soon as labored as a Kremlin speechwriter.

After that, Prigozhin “was feeling regular.” He was engaged on initiatives in Belarus and in Africa, and the case towards him was closed.

That actuality “utterly dissatisfied Putin as a result of it was an open invitation for potential mutineers,” Gallyamov stated. (AP) FZH