- July 7, 2023
- Posted by: legaleseblogger
- Category: Related News
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko recently revealed the whereabouts of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group, a private Russian paramilitary unit of mercenaries. Lukashenko stated that Prigozhin was currently in St. Petersburg, Russia, and not in Belarus as previously believed. This information follows speculations about Prigozhin’s location after he ended his short-lived mutiny on June 24. Lukashenko had mediated a deal to resolve Wagner’s armed rebellion in Russia, which involved Prigozhin’s relocation to Belarus. On June 27, Lukashenko confirmed that the Wagner chief had arrived in his country.
Addressing reporters, Lukashenko declared that he knew “for ruse” that Prigozhin was a free man and had even spoken to him on the phone the day before. Russian media reports had earlier stated that Prigozhin was sighted in St. Petersburg, with many believing that this signaled his intention to handle personal matters in the city. Meanwhile, Lukashenko mentioned that Wagner troops were still present in their camps but did not disclose their precise location. He clarified that their transfer to Belarus had not yet been decided upon, and no base had been established in the country. However, Minsk’s offer to allow Wagner to station some troops in Belarus remained on the table. Lukashenko emphasized that he did not anticipate the fighters to engage in any hostilities against his nation.
Regarding potential deployment sites, Lukashenko mentioned several former military camps in Belarus, including one near the town of Asipovichy, around 103 kilometers (or 64 miles) from Minsk. These locations, used during the Soviet era, were offered to Wagner for their use. However, Lukashenko acknowledged differences in vision regarding deployment between his government and Wagner, without providing additional details. Independent Russian news outlets have reported in recent days that camps were already being established in Belarus, including one near Asipovichy spanning 24,000 square meters and accommodating 8,000 beds.
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We have some breaking news regarding the whereabouts of Wagner group leader Evgeny Progosian and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s recent claim about his location. Lukashenko, who brokered a deal to end Wagner’s armed move against Moscow, now says that Progosian is in Russia, contradicting previous claims that he was in Belarus. However, there has been no independent confirmation of this information. DW Russia analyst Constantine Eggert, who joins us from Vilnius, explains that there is very little known about Progosian’s whereabouts. Lukashenko and Putin are known for not always telling the truth, so it’s hard to trust their claims. However, Progosian’s house was searched and interesting things were found, including large sums of cash and photos suggesting he was attempting different disguises. Several passports with his picture, but under different names, were also found. Despite these findings, there are no legal proceedings against him. There are rumors that he was seen entering his office in Saint Petersburg, but with no visual evidence or independent confirmation. Eggert believes that Progosian would want to stay as far away from Russia and Belarus as possible, considering that he has angered Putin and likely faces severe consequences.
Lukashenko also claims that he looks forward to hosting Wagner mercenaries in Belarus, but the question of their transfer and setup has not been decided yet. However, there is no proof that a significant number of Wagner mercenaries are actually in Belarus. Satellite photos allegedly show three deployment camps, which have raised concerns in neighboring countries like Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia. But it is unclear if anyone is present in these camps. Eggert suggests that it might be time to stop discussing the Wagner group since it has essentially disbanded after the mutiny. Those interested in joining private military companies in Russia or the Russian army can do so, but Eggert believes that many mercenaries would not join the regular army due to the differences in conditions, chain of command, initiative, discipline, and attitude.
Moving on to the speculation surrounding potential crackdowns in Russia, especially within the military, security services, and the elites, Eggert mentions the disappearance of Russian General Sergey Surovigin since the Wagner Uprising. It seems that Putin needs to punish those who betrayed him, as there was likely a plot to assist Progosian in removing the Minister of Defense and other high-ranking officials. However, if Putin were to carry out a major public purge, it would portray him as weak, allowing plots against him. Therefore, the current disappearance of General Surovigin and a few others might suggest that any purge would be conducted quietly for now, avoiding the impression of a widespread rebellion against Putin. Eggert shares an interesting incident involving a volunteer who sent a postcard addressed to Surovigin in an FSB prison in Moscow, indicating that he is likely being interrogated by the FSB. Overall, the situation in Russia remains uncertain, with unknown fates for key figures and potential consequences for those involved in the Wagner Uprising.
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