THÉ RUSSIA/UKRAINIAN WAR TODAY

After brief exile in Belarus, Wagner boss in Russia: Lukashenko
Mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is back in Russia less than two weeks after leading rebellion, according to the Belarusian president.
Yevgeny Prigozhin smiling as he leaves Rostov on Don. He is gripping the hand of a supporter on the street.
Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin is seen leaving the headquarters of the Southern Military District as his fighters pulled out of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, on June 24, 2023 [File: Alexander Ermochenko/Reuters]
Published On 6 Jul 2023
6 Jul 2023
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who last month brokered a deal to end Wagner’s mutiny in Russia, has said that its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is no longer in Belarus.

Lukashenko said on June 27 that Prigozhin, whose fighters briefly captured a southern Russian city and marched towards Moscow, had arrived in Belarus as part of the June 24 deal that defused the crisis.

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But Lukashenko told reporters on Thursday: “As for Prigozhin, he’s in St Petersburg. He is not on the territory of Belarus.”

A business jet linked to Prigozhin left St Petersburg for Moscow on Wednesday and headed for southern Russia on Thursday, according to flight tracking data, but it was not clear if the mercenary chief was on board.

Lukashenko said an offer for Wagner to station some of its fighters in Belarus – a prospect that has alarmed neighbouring NATO countries – still stands.

He said he did not see it as a risk to Belarus and did not believe Wagner fighters would ever take up arms against his country.

The Kremlin said it was not tracking Prigozhin’s movements.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that no date had yet been set for a meeting between President Vladimir Putin and Lukashenko, and said he could not yet confirm details of what would be on the agenda.

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Lukashenko has spoken proudly of his role in ending the mutiny, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has said could have plunged Russia into civil war. Last week, Lukashenko said he had persuaded Putin not to “wipe out” Prigozhin.