Writing.- The President of Belarus, Alexandr Lukashenko, confirmed that the head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhinhas arrived in the country, where he must live in exile after the armed rebellion that led in Russia over the weekend.
“He was provided with security guarantees, as promised (Russian President Vladimir Putin. (…) Yes, in fact, he is in Belarus,” he said at a general’s degree ceremony.
The agreement reached between the Kremlin and Prigozhin mediated by Lukashenko to stop the riot that the St. Petersburg businessman led over the weekend provided for the annulment of the criminal charge for armed rebellion against Wagner’s boss in exchange for him going to Belarus .
Putin also offered the mercenaries who revolted with Prigozhin to go to the neighboring country or sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense or other Russian security agencies to subordinate themselves to legal and official structures.
Lukashenko suggested that the exile of Prigozhin and the mercenaries joining him may only be temporary.
“As promised, if you want to spend some time here (…), we will help you. Naturally, on your own,” said the Belarusian head of state, according to the official BELTA news agency.
Lukashenko suggested that he highly values the military capabilities of Russian mercenaries, agreeing with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, who said he would not mind having such a unit in the army.
“I agree. Talk to them, ”she turned to Jrenin.
Lukashenko further denied that belarus is building camps for Wagner’s mercenaries, as was published the day before by a Russian investigative media.
“For now we do not build any camp. But if they wish (…) we will place them “in” abandoned military installations “and they can” set up tents there, “he said, referring to the mercenaries.
He pointed out that the Wagnerites are still in their camps in the Ukrainian region of Lugansk, annexed by Russia in September 2022, and stressed that at least those who do not sign agreements with the Ministry of Defense want to “go with their families” for a while. after 16 months of fighting in Ukraine.
He also stressed that Belarus is not going to open Wagner recruitment points.
