`(Summit News) This entirely bizarre slightly less than 24-hour short-lived coup attempt has just gotten even stranger, given the terms of the truce which evidently caused Evgeny Prigozhin to announce his Wagner fighter columns would turn around and go back to their bases.
The Wall Street Journal has confirmed based on Kremlin statements that “As part of the agreement, Prigozhin will leave Russia for Belarus, and criminal charges against him will be dropped, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. His fighters will be allowed to sign contracts with the Russian military.”
And Russia’s RT provides some further details as follows based on Peskov’s statement:
“He added that Wagner’s fighters will not be persecuted, taking into account their efforts on the frontlines of the Ukraine conflict. Peskov explained that President Vladimir Putin’s team “have always respected their exploits.”
Those PMC contractors, who refused to take part in the mutiny – and whole units did not – will be allowed to sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, Peskov stated.
Can this even be called “exile”?… given that Kremlin statements at this point aren’t even so much as using the word which has a clear punitive implication. The irony remains that one can get a much harsher punishment for mere Cannabis vape pens in the country. In summary:
- charges dropped against Prigozhin, who will leave Russia for Belarus
- Wagner fighters who didn’t take part in the uprising will sign contracts with the MOD
- Wagner fighters who did take part not charged
- No word on potential MOD leadership changes
What’s clear is that it does indeed look to be over, with no further immediate danger of civil conflict:
The Wagner troops are departing from Rostov, eliciting applause from the onlookers. pic.twitter.com/rdXPAKmRHl
— Russian Market (@runews) June 24, 2023
Sputnik is further confirming Wagner has handed HQ/bases in Rostov-on-Don back to the regular military:
📹 All PMC “Wagner” forces left the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don, a Sputnik correspondent reports pic.twitter.com/CtMZCBqtDa
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) June 24, 2023
Despite the slap on the wrist (if even), the Kremlin is still talking “tough”:
“The plotters’ adventurist aspirations are essentially aimed at destabilizing the situation in Russia, destroying our unity and undermining Russia’s efforts to reliably ensure international security,” the Foreign Ministry said. “The mutiny plays into the hands of Russia’s external enemies.”
“The attempted armed mutiny in our country has aroused strong disapproval in Russian society, which firmly supports President Vladimir Putin,” the Foreign Ministry said.
Regardless the speculation has begun, and is likely to continue for the coming days and weeks, over what precisely the world just witnessed here…
This is not a coup by Prigozhin. This is an inner war between the St Petersburg gang of Putin and the Moscow gang of Gerasimov and Shoigu. This is the beginning of Putin‘s election campaign to become reelected on March 17, 2024. His lapdog Prigozhin is masquerading a coup to put…
— Velina Tchakarova (@vtchakarova) June 24, 2023
One theory seems as good as any other at this point, again given the ultra-bizarre spectacle of the whole “march for justice” on Moscow… by convoys of heavily armed mercenaries.
I’ve gone on a coup by mistake! pic.twitter.com/YwwxJtayCy
— Paul (@LeoVLion) June 24, 2023
And then there was the heavy defense ministry pressure to essentially disband Wagner amid the long-running simmering tensions and war of words:
I think the catalyst for this was the move by the MoD to force all PMCs to sign contracts with them, which likely had Putin’s support. There might be a short-term compromise or truce, but I don’t think things can go back to normal after this. https://t.co/l64Xw5cC4Y
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 24, 2023
I think the catalyst for this was the move by the MoD to force all PMCs to sign contracts with them, which likely had Putin’s support. There might be a short-term compromise or truce, but I don’t think things can go back to normal after this. https://t.co/l64Xw5cC4Y
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) June 24, 2023
