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"For those who are discussing whether I'm alive or not, how I'm
doing - right now it's the weekend, second half of August 2023,
I'm in Africa," Prigozhin says in the short video published by
the Grey Zone Telegram channel which is linked to his Wagner
Group.
"So for people who like to discuss wiping me out, or my private
life, how much I earn or whatever else - everything's ok," he
adds with a wave of his hand.
Reuters was not able to verify the location or the date of the
video, which was filmed in a moving vehicle. Prigozhin's
camouflage clothing and hat, as well as the watch on his right
hand, matched his appearance in a video released on Aug. 21,
which he also claimed was filmed in Africa.
His "weekend" reference implied the latest clip must have been
made on Aug. 19 or 20, only three or four days before he and
other top Wagner figures and bodyguards were killed in a plane
crash north of Moscow on Aug. 23.
His comments in the video reflected Prigozhin's awareness of
risks to his life.
His Wagner force fought for Russia in the Ukraine war but he was
fiercely critical of the defence establishment and led a brief
mutiny in late June.
The Kremlin has rejected as an "absolute lie" the suggestion
that President Vladimir Putin had Prigozhin killed in revenge,
but has said the investigation into the crash is examining the
possibility of foul play.
Prigozhin was buried at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in his home
town of St Petersburg on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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