Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner group, has canceled a planned advance towards Moscow by his mercenaries, citing an intention to avoid “Russian bloodshed.” Instead, he has accepted the offer of exile in Belarus, thereby concluding a major threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s long-standing administration.
Prigozhin is also wanted by the FBI who issued a poster alert for his arrest with a $250,000 reward.
Prigozhin disclosed that although his troops were close to the Russian capital, he decided to halt their movement to avert potential fatalities.
Earlier, Prigozhin had expressed that they embarked on a march on June 23rd in response to plans to dismantle the Wagner military organization. However, with the rising risk of violent confrontations, the group has decided to retreat to their field camps.
Anticipating the arrival of the private military force, Moscow had implemented security measures such as establishing checkpoints on its outskirts, deploying armored vehicles and personnel, and advising drivers to avoid specific routes.
Notably, the Wagner group’s insurrection had little resistance from the Russian military, leading to inquiries about President Putin’s hold on power.
Against the backdrop of this crisis, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko negotiated with Prigozhin to persuade him to stop the Wagner group’s march. This negotiation was conducted after discussions with President Putin.
Lukashenko’s office stated, “Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted the proposal of President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of armed men of Wagner in Russia and take further steps to de-escalate tension.”
As part of the agreement with Lukashenko, Prigozhin agreed to halt the troop movement, and additional measures have been proposed to alleviate the ongoing tensions. Prigozhin will relocate to Belarus, and all charges against him will be dropped.
Wagner’s soldiers who partook in the rebellion will be immune from prosecution, and those who did not participate will be extended contracts from the defense ministry, Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner private mercenary group, has recently come into conflict with the Russian establishment. He attempted to seize control of the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to overthrow the military leadership. The authorities described this action as an armed mutiny. Prigozhin has been engaged in ongoing disputes with the defense ministry regarding military plans and ammunition supply.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) in Russia has initiated a criminal investigation against Prigozhin for his actions, accusing him of inciting armed rebellion. Furthermore, Putin has censured Prigozhin, labeling his actions as a betrayal of the nation and its people.
