(Dan Tri) – According to the agreement, the forces of the private military group Wagner withdrew to the base, and tycoon Yevgeny Prigozhin will move to Belarus.
Leader of the private military corporation Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin and his subordinates left Rostov-on-Don on June 24 (Photo: Reuters).
The Kremlin said late on June 24 that Russia and the private military force Wagner had reached an agreement to reduce tensions after mediation efforts by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the President of Belarus offered to mediate with the agreement of Russian President Vladimir Putin because Mr. Lukashenko has known leader Wagner for about 20 years.
According to the agreement, tycoon Wagner Prigozhin will `go to Belarus` and Russia will cancel the criminal investigation against him for armed rebellion.
In addition, Wagner gunmen participating in the `justice patrol` will receive immunity from punishment thanks to their contributions to Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine.
Although President Putin previously announced that he would severely punish those involved in the Wagner rebellion, Mr. Peskov emphasized that the agreement had a higher purpose of avoiding conflict and bloodshed.
Wagner members who did not participate in the mutiny were allowed to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Mr. Peskov refused to comment on whether the Kremlin offered any other concessions to Mr. Prigozhin other than the commitment to ensure his safety.
Mr. Prigozhin previously requested that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov come directly to him to discuss.
Responding to the question of whether there will be any changes in personnel at the Russian Ministry of Defense according to the agreement with Wagner, Mr. Peskov said: `Those issues are prerogative and fall under the authority of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (
Mr. Peskov also affirmed that Wagner’s case does not affect Russia’s `special military operation` in Ukraine.
Wagner withdrew from the Russian military establishment
Wagner gunmen prepare to withdraw from the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military District Command in Rostov-on-Don to return to base on the night of June 24 (Photo: AFP).
In a recording on the evening of June 24, Mr. Prigozhin announced that the units under his command had stopped about 200km from Moscow and realized `the risk of bloodshed`.
Videos posted on social networks also showed tycoon Prigozhin and Wagner soldiers leaving the army headquarters in the city of Rostov-on-Don, southern Russia and bordering Ukraine.
Governor of the Rostov region Vasily Golubev confirmed that Wagner soldiers had left the area and returned to their base.
Rostov-on-Don is a city strategically located for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
This city, only about 100km from the Ukrainian border, is home to Russia’s Southern Military District Command, which includes the 58th Combined Armed Forces fighting against Kiev’s counteroffensive in southern Ukraine.