Rostov Governor says region loyal to President Putin

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Jun 2023 18:21
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Rostov Governor Vasily Golubev underlines that a catastrophe such as division cannot be allowed to happen again.

Russian army troops and police officers guard the highway at the entrance to Moscow, on June 24, 2023 (AP)

Rostov Governor Vasily Golubev confirmed on Saturday that the region supports Russian President Vladimir Putin in light of the attempted armed mutiny in the country, underlining that a catastrophe such as division cannot be allowed to happen again.

Alexander Gusev, the governor of Russia's Voronezh region, stressed that no circumstances can force Russians to doubt the soundness of the Russian President's approach, stressing that any attempt to overthrow the constitution will fail and will be eliminated.

On his part, Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced that rumors circulating about restrictions on the capital city's incoming and outgoing road traffic are false.

"There have been many reports of traffic restrictions on the roads leading to and out of the city. This has nothing to do with reality. There may be traffic jams due to tighter security. No restrictions on entry and exit exist," Sobyanin said.

Moscow’s Department of Transport announced in a statement on Saturday that the Moskva River has been temporarily closed to vessel traffic.

Russian media also reported that an explosion sounded in the vicinity of the command building of the Southern Military District in the city of Rostov.

The Russian news agency RIA Novosti cited the Russian emergency service as saying that one person was injured in an emergency landing of a helicopter in the Voronezh region.

Hours ago, Russian authorities announced taking anti-terrorist measures in several regions after PMC Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin called for armed mutiny.

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin announced that anti-terrorist measures are being taken in the Russian capital aimed at strengthening security and additional control has been introduced on the city roads.

"In connection with the received information, anti-terrorist measures are being taken in Moscow aimed at strengthening security. Additional control on the roads has been introduced. The holding of mass public events could be restricted. Please be considerate of the measures taken," Sobyanin said on Telegram on Saturday morning.

Earlier today, Putin vowed in a live speech that all parties responsible for the attempted armed mutiny in Rostov will face the rule of law and will have to answer to the people of Russia.

His address came after Wagner PMC under the group's chief Yevgeny Prigozhin staged a military mutiny in Rostov region southwest of Russia and took control of the city Saturday morning.

Prigozhin announced on his Telegram channel storming the region and taking over the military headquarters of the city, in response to what he claims was a Russian attack on his troops earlier under the orders of the Russian Defense Ministry.

The Wagner chief was slammed with criminal charges for staging the mutiny. He had called on the group's supporters inside Russia to join his movement and rebel against Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, as well as the Chief of Staff and commander of the military operations in Ukraine, General Valery Gerasimov. Prigozhin conditioned that he would only withdraw from Rostov if Shoigu resigned.