After the Wagner revolt, Russia’s President Putin thanked the security forces for their efforts. He gave the Wagner mercenaries a choice: join the army, return to the family, or live in Belarus.
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin thanked the Russian security forces and the population for their support after the revolt of Wagner’s private army was crushed. “I thank all the soldiers, employees of the secret services, who stood in the way of the insurgents,” Putin said in a speech broadcast on state television.
Everything had been done on his orders to prevent bloodshed. “It took time,” Putin said. “The armed uprising would have been crushed that way.”
Thanks to Lukashenko for mediation
He also thanked Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko for mediating in the conflict with Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. His ex-confidant Prigozhin gave up the march on Moscow on Saturday and is said to find refuge in Belarus.
Putin said he will keep his promise. Those Wagner mercenaries who wanted to go to Belarus could do so. Those who wished to remain in Russia could sign a contract with the army or return to their families. At first, Prigozhin did not mention Putin.
Any attempt to create chaos in Russia is doomed to fail, the president stressed. “The organizers of the uprising, who betrayed the country, also betrayed those who were on their side,” Putin said.