President of Belarus Confirmed Arrival of Wagner Leader in Belarus

President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko
Image Credit: Google

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirms the presence of Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner paramilitary group, in Belarus.

Lukashenko's intervention prevented the Wagner mercenaries from marching on Moscow following their mutiny against Russian military leaders.

Putin's supporters deny any weakening of his rule and instead frame the events as a victory for the Russian army.

Here are the key details of the situation.

Lukashenko's Offer and Wagner's Status:

Lukashenko extended an offer to the Wagner group, allowing them to use an abandoned military site in Belarus temporarily.

However, he clarified that there will be no recruitment points for Wagner in Belarus.

Lukashenko said there would be no Wagner recruitment points in Belarus but the nation’s citizens may join the group and issued an ominous warning that those who make such a decision should realise the “danger of death” for the job.

Mutiny Triggered by Interpersonal Conflict:

According to Lukashenko, the mutiny stemmed from an interpersonal conflict between Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Prigozhin, which escalated into a larger confrontation.

Lukashenko defended Shoigu's reputation and characterized the conflict as a shared problem between Russia and Belarus.

Lessons Learned and Responsiveness:

Lukashenko acknowledged the need to be more attentive to military collectives like Wagner and respond to their requests promptly.

The situation served as a reminder to prioritize timely action and attentiveness to avoid such incidents in the future.

Putin's Supporters and Denial of Weakening:

Supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the notion that his rule was weakened by the revolt.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed claims of diminishing power, suggesting that political commentators are exaggerating the situation.

Putin attempted to present the weekend's events as a victory for the Russian army.

During a gathering of troops, he expressed gratitude and credits them with stopping a civil war.

A minute's silence was held in honor of airmen killed by Wagner forces.

(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)