A Russian political analyst has claimed Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is alive and that it was his body double that was killed in last week's plane crash.

A Russian political analyst has claimed Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin is alive and that it was his body double that was killed in last week's plane crash.

Prigozhin is 'alive, well, and free' in an unnamed country, according to Dr. Valery Solovey, even as Russia stages his funeral which Vladimir Putin is refusing to attend.

Prigozhin is now plotting his revenge, says the political analyst, a former professor at Moscow's prestigious Institute of International Relations [MGIMO], a training school for spies and diplomats.

Dr. Solovey accuses the Russian authorities of lying over Prigozhin's DNA being found at the crash site in the Tver region while being aware the bid to kill the Wagner leader had failed because a body double, which the warlord was known to use got on the plane in his place.

'First, the plane in which Yevgeny Prigozhin was supposed to fly was downed by a Russian air defence system,' he said, challenging US intelligence claims that the plane was destroyed by a blast on board.

'There was no explosion on board. It was downed from the outside.'

The secret operation to carry out this strike 'was developed in [Russia's] Security Council, and was sanctioned personally by the Russian president [Vladimir Putin].'

The warlord is now 'alive, well, and free', Solovey claims.

'Prigozhin himself was not on board. His double was flying instead of him. By the way, Vladimir Putin is perfectly aware of that.

'If you believe official statements of the Russian authorities, then what can I say…?'

Dr Solovey said he would reveal Prigozhin's supposed country of exile early next month but denied it was in Africa where the Wagner private army has multiple interests.

However, Prigozhin - whose funeral is expected imminently and which Putin is refusing to attend - aimed to show himself by the end of this year.

Putin's spokesman said: 'The presence of the President is not provided.

We don't have any specific information on funerals. Still, the decision on this matter is made by relatives and friends.'

Exiled Prigozhin was 'preparing for revenge', insisted Dr. Solovey.

'How did he end up alive while his close people died?