Minsk: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that Russia’s rebel chief wagner The group, along with thousands of fighters, was still in Russia, but the president dismissed speculation that Vladimir Putin Will happen Yevgeny Prigozhin were killed. Lukashenko helped broker deal Putin The end of last month’s rebellion is Putin’s most serious challenge in his 23 years in power. Prigozhin In return for the charges being dropped, he had to stand up with his mercenaries and go to Belarus.
But in comments questioning the deal, Lukashenko said Prigozhin and his fighters were still in Russia. Lukashenko said he would stick to his offer to host Wagner – a prospect that has alarmed neighboring NATO countries – and would speak to Putin soon. The Kremlin said no date has been set. “He is not on the territory of Belarus,” Lukashenko told reporters at the sprawling Independence Palace in Minsk. “He is in Petersburg… Perhaps he went to Moscow this morning.” Lukashenko said Prigozhin has his freedom but that journalists are being unwise if they think Russian security services are not keeping a close eye on him.
Asked about earlier comments that Putin wanted to “eliminate” Prigozhin when the rebellion began, Lukashenko said that some in the Kremlin wanted that, but that it would lead Russia to civil war. Lukashenko said, “What happens to him next? Strange things happen in life but if you think Putin is so malicious and vindictive that he will ‘erase’ him tomorrow – in Russian – no, it won’t.”
“The fighters of the Wagner group are in their camps – in their permanent camps – where they have been located since leaving the front.” Wagner’s main camp is at Molkino near Krasnodar in southern Russia.
The Belarusian leader dismissed questions about whether Putin has been weakened by the crisis.
But in comments questioning the deal, Lukashenko said Prigozhin and his fighters were still in Russia. Lukashenko said he would stick to his offer to host Wagner – a prospect that has alarmed neighboring NATO countries – and would speak to Putin soon. The Kremlin said no date has been set. “He is not on the territory of Belarus,” Lukashenko told reporters at the sprawling Independence Palace in Minsk. “He is in Petersburg… Perhaps he went to Moscow this morning.” Lukashenko said Prigozhin has his freedom but that journalists are being unwise if they think Russian security services are not keeping a close eye on him.
Asked about earlier comments that Putin wanted to “eliminate” Prigozhin when the rebellion began, Lukashenko said that some in the Kremlin wanted that, but that it would lead Russia to civil war. Lukashenko said, “What happens to him next? Strange things happen in life but if you think Putin is so malicious and vindictive that he will ‘erase’ him tomorrow – in Russian – no, it won’t.”
“The fighters of the Wagner group are in their camps – in their permanent camps – where they have been located since leaving the front.” Wagner’s main camp is at Molkino near Krasnodar in southern Russia.
The Belarusian leader dismissed questions about whether Putin has been weakened by the crisis.