MOSCOW, Aug  25, 2023 (BSS/AFP) - Russian investigators said Friday they
had recovered flight recorders and ten bodies from the scene of a plane crash
thought to have killed Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin two days ago.

An investigation is underway into what caused Wednesday's crash, which came
exactly two months after Wagner's short-lived rebellion against Moscow's
military leadership.

"In the course of initial investigative work, the bodies of 10 victims were
found at the site of the plane crash," Russia's Investigative Committee said on
social media.

"Molecular genetic analyses are being carried out to establish their
identities," it said, adding that "flight recorders" were also recovered from
the scene.

Since the crash, which also claimed the lives of some of Prigozhin's close
entourage, many Western countries and Kremlin critics have speculated the
Wagner chief could have been assassinated.

The Kremlin has rejected suggestions it was involved, calling the incident
"tragic" and dismissing rumours of possible foul play as an "absolute lie".

Russian officials said they had opened a probe into violations of air
traffic rules, but have otherwise been silent about what may have caused the
incident.