In a U-turn, Wagner group fighters on Saturday returned to their field camps from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don under a deal brokered by Belarus. The deal also ensured Russia dropped charges against Wagner’s chief, Prigozhin, for armed mutiny.
As per the deal, Wagner Chief Yevgeny Prigozhin will move to Belarus which will bring an end to the armed mutiny led by him against the Russian military.
Belarus President, Alexander Lukashenko, has offered to mediate with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s agreement. The criminal case that had begun against Prigozhin for armed mutiny would be dropped and the Wagner fighters who had taken part in his “march for justice” would not face any action, in recognition of their previous service to Russia, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Saturday.
Kremlin spokesperson also said that the criminal case will be dropped against Prigozhin for armed mutiny because the Russian president knew him personally for more than 20 years.
In a major update in Russian forces’ autonomy, fighters who did not take part would enter into a contract with the Defence Ministry, which has been seeking to bring all autonomous volunteer forces under its control by July 1, reported Reuters.
Key points of the mutiny deal brokered by Belarus
-As per the deal, Wagner mercenary force chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, will relocate to Belarus, the Kremlin said on Saturday.
-Under the deal, the criminal cases against Prigozhin, which were registered on Satturday, will be dropped.
-The deal also ensured that other Wagner troops don’t face any punitive action for the rebellion by Russia.
-It was also confirmed by Kremlin’s spokesperson that the military assault plans against Ukraine will remain unaffected by the mutiny.
-After the deal, Wagner forces began to leave the city and leave the Russian military facilities, it had occupied under the rebellion.
Earlier, the private military group seized Rostov’s military headquarters on Saturday. Rostov’s military HQ was the key to operate Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The heavily armed Wagner fighter took control of Rostov, while some of them began marching towards Moscow in a rebellion against Russia’s military establishment.
The deal was brokered by Belarus, and Wagner fighteres pulled out of Rostov to avoid bloodshed and de-escalate the crisis.
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