Mercenary Rebellion in Russia
Lukashenko claims he dissuaded Putin from killing Wagner boss Prigozhin
Pretty best friends: Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko greets Vladimir Putin during their meeting at Bocharov Ruchei residence in Sochi 2021.
© Gavriil Grigorov / Pool Sputnik Kremlin / AP / DPA
After the near-coup by the Wagner group, Alexander Lukashenko stylized himself as the hero of the day. It was he who mediated between mercenary boss Prigozhin and President Putin. But the role of the Belarusian ruler went much further – at least that’s what he claims.
In a speech at a military ceremony later released by the Belarusian press service, he said he personally persuaded Russian President Vladimir Putin to let Prigozhin live. Several media reported about it.
Lukashenko: Prigozhin was “half crazy”.
According to the Washington Post, Lukashnko dissuaded the Kremlin chief from making a “hard decision” in the speech at the Palace of Independence in Minsk. Putin called him on Saturday morning and informed him of the situation. At that point, the Russian President had already made a “cruel decision,” said Lukashenko. Killing Prigozhin is theoretically possible, but it would result in a lot of bloodshed, Lukashenko explained to Putin.
Instead, he offered him to contact the Wagner boss. Putin was initially skeptical: “‘Listen, Sascha [Kurzform für Alexander, Anm. d. Redaktion], it’s useless. He doesn’t even pick up the phone, he doesn’t want to talk to anyone,'” the Kremlin chief reportedly said.
A few hours later, Lukashenko succeeded in what the Kremlin itself failed to do – he got the rebellious businessman on the phone. He cursed for half an hour, “ten times more than normal,” said Lukashenko. Prigozhin was “half crazy” and demanded that Putin hand over Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov to him. The “last dictator in Europe,” as Lukashenko is also known, was finally able to bring the mercenary boss to his senses. “Halfway there they will crush you like a beetle,” the president made clear to him.
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Several phone calls and hours later, the apparently successful mediation between the state and the private army: In return for impunity and safe conduct to Belarus, Prigozhin called off the uprising early on Saturday evening – allegedly just 200 kilometers from Moscow.
Sources: “Washington Post“, “Pravda“; DPA