Kremlin kept Yevgeny Prigozhin’s funeral under wraps

The decision to keep rogue Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin’s funeral under wraps was made by top Kremlin and security service officials who could not forgive him the “humiliation” inflicted on the regime by his recent mutiny, according to a report.

Prigozhin, 62, was laid to rest Tuesday in a private ceremony at a cemetery on the outskirts of St. Petersburg — just days after his private jet crashed in the Tver region, killing all 10 people on board.

“The aim was to ensure that when the coffin with Prigozhin’s body was lowered into the grave, there were no mass gatherings of citizens, mercenaries and sympathizers around, as well as no broadcasts and photos on social media from the entrance to the cemetery,” two Russian officials speaking on condiotn of anonymity told The Moscow Times.

The mutinous warlord’s final farewell was the subject of several meetings involving senior Kremlin officials, led by First Deputy Chief-of-Staff Sergei Kiriyenko, along with FSB and intelligence officers, the officials claimed.

The plan that emerged from those meetings was to keep a lid on Prigozhin’s funeral in a bid to prevent unrest and protests.

Security services were allegedly tasked with misleading the public about the funeral venue.

In an effort to sow confusion, preparations were reportedly made at several burial sites throughout St. Petersburg and even one in Moscow — but the Porokhovskoye cemetery, where Prigozhin actually ended up being interred, was not mentioned in any news reports.

The location of Prigozhin’s grave was not revealed until after his funeral was over — and even then dozens of security officers remained on scene guarding the area.

Prigozhin’s death, which came exactly two months after his short-lived military revolt, apparently rattled the Kremlin after having sparked an outpouring of grief from the public.

“Prigozhin, with his demand for justice, sharp and often truthful statements, caused emotion among Russians and as a formal Hero of Russia, and as a ‘people’s hero.’ Do we need heroes who marched on Moscow? No,” a government official told The Moscow Times.

Several makeshift memorials honoring the notoriously brutal and blunt Wagner Group chief have sprung up across Russia, drawing mourners bearing flowers and mercenary-themed memorabilia.

“There is not even a question of betrayal here, but a question of humiliation. I think the country’s leadership could not forgive him,” said another official.

President Vladimir Putin famously labeled Prigozhin a “traitor” during his insurrection aimed at overthrowing Russia’s military leadership – before agreeing to drop all charges against the mercenary as part of a negotiated truce.

Having been awarded the title “Hero of Russia” in his lifetime, Prigozhin had the right to expect a grand funeral, complete with an honor guard, state flag, military orchestra and gun salute.

Instead, Prigozhin’s memorial had none of the pomp and circumstance befitting his “hero” status. The entire affair lasted about 40 minutes and was attended by a couple dozen relatives and friends, the independent outlet Agentstvo reported.

On Thursday, Prigozhin’s second-in-command — and the co-founder of the Wagner Group — Dmitry Utkin was buried on the outskirts of Moscow.

Utkin, 53, whose call sign “Wagner” gave the private army its name, was laid to rest in Mytishchi, in a ceremony cordoned off by the Russian military police, reported the Telegram news channel Shot.

The Kremlin slammed as an “absolute lie” allegations made by Western commenters that Putin ordered the deaths of Prigozhin and his men.

The unexplained plane crash is being probed by Russia’s Investigative Committee, which is looking at the possibility that it was caused by “deliberate wrongdoing.”