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| Image Credit: Google |
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of the
Wagner private military company, has ordered his mercenaries to halt their march
on Moscow to prevent bloodshed and has agreed to live in exile in Belarus.
This development marks the end of
one of the biggest challenges to President Vladimir Putin's rule, as
Prigozhin's rebellion appeared to gain momentum.
Decision to Prevent Bloodshed:
Prigozhin made the decision to turn
back his troops, who were just 200km away from Moscow, to avoid potential
casualties.
In an audio message, he stated that
the march of justice, which began on June 23, could have resulted in bloodshed.
Understanding the responsibility,
Prigozhin chose to redirect the columns of mercenaries to their planned field
camps.
Moscow's Preparations and Negotiations with Belarus:
Moscow took precautionary measures
by erecting checkpoints with armored vehicles and troops on its southern edge,
shutting down Red Square, and urging motorists to avoid certain roads.
Meanwhile, Belarusian leader
Alexander Lukashenko played a crucial role in negotiating with Prigozhin to
stop the troop movement, following discussions with Putin.
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| Image Credit: Google, Al-Jazeera |
Settlement and Exile in Belarus:
Lukashenko's office confirmed that
Prigozhin accepted the offer to halt the advance of the Wagner group and agreed
to further de-escalation steps.
The proposed settlement includes
security guarantees for the Wagner troops.
As part of the deal, Prigozhin will
move to neighboring Belarus, and the criminal case against him will be closed.
The troops who participated in the
uprising will not face prosecution, while those who did not will be offered
contracts by the defense ministry.
Uncertainty and Political Transition:
Experts express uncertainty about
the future and the potential consequences of the incident.
Russian defense analyst Pavel
Felgenhauer emphasizes the need to observe how the situation unfolds and the
concessions made by each party involved.
Anna Matveeva from the Russia
Institute at King's College London sees this event as the opening chapter in
Russia's political transition, signaling more developments to come.
Possible Scenarios and Putin's Response:
The outcome of the crisis could have
various implications.
If Prigozhin's demand to remove
Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu is met, it would significantly weaken Putin's
authority and position Prigozhin as a winner.
Alternatively, if Prigozhin have
agreed not to press the demand, Putin could reward him with lucrative
government contracts.
However, backtracking on branding
Prigozhin a traitor would be politically damaging for Putin.
Some speculate that Prigozhin might
put the Wagner Group under federal authority or redirect its activities back to
Africa.
Putin's Response and Security Measures:
Putin addressed the nation,
condemning the rebellion as a betrayal and treason.
He assured that those involved in
the uprising would face inevitable punishment.
A "counterterrorist
regime" was declared in Moscow and its surrounding region, leading to
enhanced security measures and restrictions on movement.
Troops set up checkpoints and
deployed heavy weaponry on the southern outskirts.
International Perspective and Ukrainian President's Remarks:
Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy commented on the Wagner troops' rebellion, highlighting the chaos it
exposed in Russia.
He emphasized that Russia's control
was crumbling, leading to unpredictability and devastation.
Zelenskyy urged Putin to withdraw
troops from Ukrainian land, warning of the consequences they would bring to
Russia.
(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)
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