By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Russian President Vladimir Putin and Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner Group [Photo: Peoples Gazette] |
Several days after the Wagner Group's failed mutiny, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that the Russian mercenary military forces leader had left the country and returned to Russia.
He had dismissed Moscow's suggestion that Mr Prigozhin be assassinated.
"If you think Putin is so vicious and vindictive that he'll finish him off," he said, "no, it's not going to happen."
Mr. Lukashenko's claim about Mr. Prigozhin's return to Russia could not be verified right away. According to Russian media, he was recently seen at his St. Petersburg offices.
Mr Prigozhin marched an estimated 25,000 fighters into Russia last month in a brief'mutiny' against Mr Putin and Russian defence officials. According to the former chef, it was a "march for justice."
They had captured some strategic military installations in Russian cities and were only 200 kilometres from Moscow when the advance was halted.
According to multiple reports, Mr Lukashenko was the one who intervened and brokered a deal on that day, forcing Mr Prigozhin to turn back his convoy in exchange for exile in Belarus for him and some of his fighters without facing any charges for their 'betrayal' of Mr Putin.
Wagner had fought alongside the Russian army since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and had been paid for his services by the Russian Ministry of Defence until the relationship soured.
The group had complained about the Russian government's failure to supply ammunition during the Ukrainian conflict.
The allegations of an alleged bombing of Wagner's position in Ukraine, which allegedly killed many of the group's fighters, heightened the tensions. Mr. Prigozhin stated that
The allegations of an alleged bombing of Wagner's position in Ukraine, which allegedly killed many of the group's fighters, heightened the tensions. According to Mr. Prigozhin, the Russian military did it on purpose.