Wagner Chief Prigozhin Negotiates
The leader of the “rebel” paramilitary group Wagner Group negotiated a deal with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko hours after launching an offensive against the Putin-led government in Russia.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, who had earlier pledged to depose the Russian premier, ordered the Wagner fighters to abandon their march on Moscow and leave the destroyed city of Rostov.
The Wagner CEO will relocate to Belarus in accordance with his agreement with Alexander Lukashenko. In return, Yevgeny Prigozhin will have all allegations against him withdrawn. The Wagner warriors won’t be prosecuted either.
BREAKING:
Prigozhin enters a car in Rostov and heads for the airport, preparing for his exile in Belarus. pic.twitter.com/IW8FsuaIZv
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) June 24, 2023
Dmitry Peskov, a spokesperson for the Kremlin, confirmed the development and praised the president of Belarus for defusing the situation. He stated that Yevgeny Prigozhin and his private militia were safe since Vladimir Putin had given his word.
Peskov added that the Russian Defense Ministry would extend employment opportunities to the Wagner warriors who abstained from the armed uprising. Yevgeny Prigozhin, CEO of the Wagner Group, stated in a statement that he accepted the arrangement to avoid the loss of Russian blood.
“Realising all the responsibility for the fact that Russian blood will be shed from one side, we will turn our convoys around and go in the opposite direction to our field camps,” he emphasised.
Video shows Prigozhin is leaving Rostov.
He is headed for exile in Belarus. pic.twitter.com/RHPUxWh8v1
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) June 24, 2023
Vladimir Putin is said to have taken a flight from Moscow to an unidentified destination in the meantime. Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the president of Ukraine, appeared to support the Wagner Group’s violent uprising against the Kremlin prior to the Belarus agreement.
“Everyone who chooses the path of evil destroys himself. Whoever throws hundreds of thousands into the war, eventually must barricade himself in the Moscow region from those whom he himself armed,” he had said.
The Background of the Controversy
The long-running internal conflict over the war in Ukraine between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is finally in the open.
Yevgeny Prigozhin promised to overthrow the Russian military hierarchy on Saturday (June 24), accusing them of carrying out attacks on his men. After Yevgeny Prigozhin called for an armed rebellion against the nation’s military in an audio message, the Russian government demanded his arrest.
Vladimir Putin issued a statement condemning the actions of the ‘rebel’ Russian paramilitary organisation. In a televised address, he said, “What we are facing is precisely treachery… excessive ambitions and personal interests led to treason (against) their country and people, and to the cause for which Wagner fighters and commanders fought and died side by side with our other units and divisions.”
Here’s President Putin’s full speech, translated, denouncing Wagner / Prigozhin’s actions as treasonous and ordering the end to the military rebellion. pic.twitter.com/EgFtNIn6pR
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 24, 2023
“Those who organised a military mutiny… who took up arms against their comrades… betrayed Russia and will answer for it. This is a blow to Russia… our people. Our actions to protect the Fatherland from such a threat will be harsh,” Putin warned.
While responding to the statement of the Russian President, Yevgeny Prigozhin said, “Regarding the betrayal of the motherland, the President was deeply mistaken. We are patriots of our homeland…We do not want the country to live on in corruption, deceit and bureaucracy.”
Also read: Mercenary Group Leader To Leave Russia As Kremlin Drops Case Against Him
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