Alexander Lukashenko helped broker the deal whereby Prigozhin ended his foiled June 24 rebellion in exchange for security guarantees for himself and his soldiers. The pact allowed for the transfer of both Prigozhin and his troops to Belarus.
But few details of the deal have been released, and the whereabouts and future of Wagner’s boss, as well as that of his private army, were unclear. The Kremlin has refused to comment on the whereabouts of the magnate or his movements since the uprising.
Although he confirmed last week that Prigozhin was in Belarus, Lukashenko told foreign journalists on Thursday that the mercenary chief was in Saint Petersburg while his troops were in their camps.
The Belarusian president did not specify the location of the camps. Prior to the revolt, Prigozhin’s mercenaries fought alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.
Lukashenko said his government offered Wagner, the private military contractor founded by Prigozhin, the use of Belarusian military camps, but said the group had not made a decision yet.
Asked if Prigozhin and his mercenaries were going to move to Belarus, Lukashenko evasively pointed out that this would depend on the decisions made by the magnate and the Russian government. The leader does not believe that Wagner’s presence is going to destabilize his country.
During their brief rebellion, they swiftly seized Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia, capturing the city’s military headquarters before marching on the capital Moscow in what Prigozhin described as a “march of justice” to overthrow the Russian Defense Minister and the Chief of the General Staff.
Prigozhin claimed his forces were less than 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Moscow when he ordered a halt under the Lukashenko-brokered deal.
The failed rebellion was the biggest threat to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power and exposed the Kremlin’s weaknesses as well as eroding the president’s authority.
Fighters from the Wagner Group met little resistance: they smashed roadblocks on occasions and shot down at least six helicopters and a command plane, killing at least 10 troops.
Lukashenko’s remarks came after Russian media reported that Prigozhin had been seen in Saint Petersburg, the country’s second-biggest city. It was considered that his presence there was protected by agreements that allowed him to close his affairs in the city.
According to Russian press reports, Prigozhin recovered cash seized during the search of his offices and a small arsenal of weapons that he kept at his home in St. Petersburg.
Russian online newspaper Fontanka published videos and photos of Prigozhin’s opulent mansion and some of his belongings, including a collection of multi-colored wigs. In addition, he posted a series of selfies in which he appeared posing in foreign wigs and uniforms, in an apparent reflection of the group’s operations in Syria and various African countries.
Lukashenko said he had warned Prigozhin that he and his troops would be destroyed if he did not reach an agreement to end the revolt and that Belarus would send a brigade to help protect Moscow.
He claimed that the rebellion could lead to great bloodshed and plunge Russia into civil war.
“It was necessary to nip it in the bud. It was very dangerous, as history shows,” Lukashenko said.
FUENTE: Associated Press
