Events
Lukashenko helps resolve Wagner’s situation. Details of intense negotiation day
An archive photo
MINSK, 24 June (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has successfully helped resolve the most acute phase of the situation in Russia after Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian private military company Wagner, attempted to stage a mutiny, BelTA has learned.
The Belarusian head of state had an intense Saturday, which included conferences with officers of defense, security, and law enforcement agencies, contacts with President of Russia Vladimir Putin, and negotiations with Yevgeny Prigozhin. The negotiations lasted for an entire day and ways to defuse the situation were finally found.
How did the situation unfold?
Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case against Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head and the founder of the private military company Wagner, because of his calls for an armed mutiny. The decision was made in response to messages and video materials, which had been published via social networks earlier and in which Yevgeny Prigozhin stated that the Russian army had carried out strikes against the private military company’s rear bases. The Defense Ministry refuted the claims. The Russian Defense Ministry also described the claims as misinformation released for provocative purposes. After opening the criminal case Russia’s Federal Security Service demanded that illegal actions must stop.
According to TASS, President of Russia Vladimir Putin was notified about the situation with Yevgeny Prigozhin. Vladimir Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov clarified that all the necessary measures were being taken. Later on the press secretary noted that the Defense Ministry, the Federal Security Service, the Internal Affairs Ministry, and the National Guard of Russia had been keeping Vladimir Putin informed round-the-clock about the measures being taken in response to his instructions concerning the armed mutiny attempt.
Vladimir Putin. Photo courtesy of the Russian president's press service
The Russian Defense Ministry also described the situation with Yevgeny Prigozhin as an armed mutiny. The Defense Ministry urged Wagner soldiers to be reasonable and contact representatives of the Defense Ministry or law enforcement agencies. Later on the Defense Ministry noted they had helped Wagner’s commanding officers and soldiers, who had contacted the Defense Ministry, to safely return to their permanent bases.
Sergei Surovikin, second-in-command of the Russian joint armed force in the area of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine, urged the private military company Wagner to obey the order given by the Russian president and resolve all the disputes peacefully.
The state of counterterrorism operation was declared in several parts of Russia, including Moscow and the oblast, due to the attempt to stage an armed mutiny.
A morning call from Putin and conferences
President of Russia Vladimir Putin talked to Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko over the phone in the morning on 24 June.
During the phone call Vladimir Putin informed Aleksandr Lukashenko about the situation in Russia’s south that had been caused by the private military company Wagner. The heads of state agreed on joint actions.
In response to events in Russia Aleksandr Lukashenko held two conferences with top officers of defense, security, and law enforcement agencies. The conference took place in the morning and in the afternoon.
The Russian president’s address
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin made a televised address, during which he stated that the Russian leadership will not allow a repeat of the civil war in the country. “We will not allow it to happen again. We will protect both our nation and our statehood from any threats, including from domestic treachery,” he stated.
Vladimir Putin described actions of top officers of the private military company Wagner as treachery and treason. “Any domestic turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood,” he stressed. “Actions against such a threat will be harsh. Everyone, who deliberately chooses the path of treachery, who prepared the armed revolt, who opted for blackmail and terrorist methods, will face inevitable punishment. They will answer both to the law and to our people.”
Vladimir Putin also assured that as the president and the commander-in-chief, as a citizen of Russia he would do his utmost to defend the country, protect the constitutional system, life, security, freedom of citizens.
Lukashenko’s negotiations with Prigozhin
Acting upon the agreement with the Russian leader, the Belarus president additionally clarified the situation using his own channels and held negotiations with Wagner’s boss Yevgeny Prigozhin with approval of the Russian president.
The negotiations lasted for the entire day. As a result, the sides agreed that it is unacceptable to start a bloodbath in Russia’s territory. Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted Aleksandr Lukashenko’s proposal on stopping the advance of Wagner’s armed units in Russia’s territory and on further steps meant to deescalate tensions.
At present an absolutely advantageous and acceptable variant to defuse the situation is available, including safety guarantees for fighters of the private military company Wagner, the Belarus president’s press service said.
U-turn
After the sensational news about Aleksandr Lukashenko’s contribution to the resolution of the situation, RIA Novosti quoted Wagner’s boss Yevgeny Prigozhin as saying that Wagner’s columns are turning back and are moving in the backward direction.
Yevgeny Prigozhin said: “Understanding the entire responsibility that Russian blood may be spilt on both sides, we are turning back our columns and are going backwards to field camps according to plan.”
It was also stated that Wagner soldiers intend to leave Rostov-on-Don.
Photo courtesy of TASS
Evening phone conversation with Putin
At nine in the evening on 24 June the presidents of Belarus and Russia once again talked to each other over the phone.
The Belarus president informed the Russian president in detail about results of Aleksandr Lukashenko’s negotiations with Wagner’s leadership.
The Russian president expressed support and thanked the Belarusian counterpart for the work he had done.
print version
make home page
add to bookmarks
