Yevgeny Prigozhin is back in Russia, says Lukashenko

Vladimir Lukashenko: Putin’s vengeance will not happen for the failed mutiny in Kiev, and what will Putin do about it?

According to Alexander Lukashenko, who negotiated an end to the insurrection with the Kremlin by offering to host Prigozhin and his mercenaries, he came up with the idea of having them inBelarus.

Mr. Lukashenko also signaled that at least some of Wagner’s fighting force — which was instrumental in Russia’s capture of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut this spring — could stay intact. He called the group Russia’s “most powerful unit,” although he said that “the main question of where Wagner will be deployed and what will it do — it doesn’t depend on me; it depends on the leadership of Russia.”

Under the terms of that agreement, Prigozhin promised to withdraw his troops, and the Kremlin said the Wagner leader won’t face charges for the mutiny, though Russian President Vladimir Putin branded him a “traitor.” Russian officials have said Prigozhin would be exiled to another country.

He said that he had spoken to Prigozhin on Wednesday, and that he would continue to fulfill his duties for as long as possible. He claimed that Mr. Prigozhin was a free man but did not have any idea what would happen in the future.

He said he did not expect that Mr. Putin would seek immediate vengeance for the failed mutiny. He said that if you think that Putin will kill Prigordin tomorrow, you’re wrong; it will not happen.

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The unit will be activated if we have to for the defense of the nation. “And their experience will be in high demand.”

By granting an interview session with a small group of reporters at his presidential palace on Thursday, Mr. Lukashenko may be hoping to establish a measure of independence from his benefactors in Moscow, while possibly getting a boost at home, with an electorate more interested in peace than joining Mr. Putin’s war in Ukraine.

The announcement is a new chapter in an ongoing saga that has been taking place for some time, and has been cast into question by the terms of the deal with Russia to end the rebellion.

Nearly two weeks ago, the Wagner mercenary force briefly seized control of the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and marched to the outskirts of Moscow nearly unopposed before withdrawing.