Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin buried in private service

Flowers are seen on the grave of Wagner Group’s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin after a funeral at the Porokhovskoye cemetery in St. Petersburg, Russia, on Tuesday (Dmitri Lovetsky/AP/PA)

A private burial was held for Yevgeny Prigozhin, ending a tumultuous journey from St Petersburg street thug to Kremlin-financed mercenary leader, following a suspicious plane crash two months after his brief mutiny that challenged the authority of Russian president Vladimir Putin.

His spokespeople said on Tuesday that a service took place behind closed doors, and directed “those who wish to bid their farewell” to the 62-year-old head of the Wagner private military contractor to go to the Porokhovskoye cemetery in his home town.