This Video Does Not Feature Vladimir Putin Attending Wagner Leader’s Funeral

Misbar investigated the circulated video and found the claim to be misleading.
Russian President Vladimir Putin did not attend the funeral of the Wagner leader. Upon conducting a thorough reverse image search, Misbar's team concluded that the circulating video is a combination of two separate outdated videos.

The First Video Shows Putin Attending His Trainer's Funeral, Not Prigozhin’s Funeral

The first segment of the video features the Russian president participating in the funeral of his former Judo trainer, Anatoly Rakhlin, in St. Petersburg in August 2013. During the funeral, Putin expressed profound sadness for the loss. After the ceremony, he stood beside Rakhlin's coffin.

A YouTube channel uploaded the identical video on August 10, 2013, under the title, “Putin shows his respect for late mentor Rakhlin.”

Furthermore, the second segment of the viral video features Putin walking alone in the street after his trainer's funeral. 
Sputnik media outlet uploaded the identical video in a published article on August 9, 2013. The video depicted Putin laying flowers at the burial site of Anatoly Rakhlin in St. Petersburg. Putin remained beside the casket of his former coach, deep in thought. He engaged in conversations with both Rakhlin's widow and his former sparring partners. Afterward, he briefly walked alone before departing in a vehicle. 

The article also noted that Anatoly Rakhlin, who had once affectionately called himself Putin's 'second father,' had passed away at the age of 75 after a prolonged period of illness.

Vladimir Putin Did Not Attend Prigozhin’s Funeral

Earlier Tuesday, the Kremlin announced that Putin would not be present at the funeral of Prigozhin, his former associate. This decision came amidst the understated burials of the initial Wagner leaders who lost their lives in the crash.

By declining to attend the funeral, Putin's actions had the potential to aggravate Prigozhin's staunch supporters, known for their militant stance. They regarded Prigozhin as a heroic figure in the context of war and insisted on his burial being accompanied by military honors. This sentiment persisted despite his involvement in the June uprising aimed at overthrowing the nation's military leadership.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to questions about the funeral by saying Putin’s schedule was busy. Peskov said that he had "no specific information" about the funeral and that decisions rested with the family.

Wagner Leader Confirmed Dead Due to Jet Crash

Authorities have officially confirmed the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner group, through genetic analysis of the bodies retrieved from the plane crash. The Russian Investigative Committee (SK) declared that the identities of all 10 individuals, including Prigozhin, have been verified and correspond to the names on the flight's passenger list.

The victims include several high-ranking members of Wagner, a Russian mercenary organization established by Prigozhin that has taken part in military actions in Ukraine, Syria, and various regions in Africa. Among them was Dmitry Utkin, who oversaw Wagner's military operations.

The incident involved the crash of Prigozhin's private aircraft to the northwest of Moscow on August 23, resulting in the deaths of all those aboard. The Kremlin has dismissed suggestions of its involvement in the crash. The SK is presently conducting an ongoing criminal investigation into the incident.

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