Saudi's MBS voices support for Putin over Wagner mutiny
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman underlines his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin in light of Wagner's mutiny.
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Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives at the New Global Financial Summit in Paris, France, June 22, 2023 (AP)
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman voiced on Tuesday his support for Russian President Vladimir Putin over the armed mutiny carried out by Wagner PMC chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
The Kremlin added that bin Salman called Putin on Tuesday in the wake of the events that took place Saturday.
"In connection with the events in Russia on June 24, Mohammed bin Salman expressed support for the measures taken by the Russian leadership to protect the constitutional order, the life, and security of citizens," the Kremlin said in a statement.
Infighting broke out within Russia, with Prigozhin announcing on his Telegram channel the storming of the region of Rostov and taking over the military headquarters in response to what he claims was a Russian state attack on his troops earlier under the orders of the Defense Ministry.
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Prigozhin called on the group's supporters inside the Russian Federation to join his movement and rebel against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, as well as the Chief of Staff and commander of the military operations in Ukraine Army General Valery Gerasimov.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement that a criminal probe was launched due to the seriousness of the situation, which poses a threat to the Russian Federation. FSB called Wagner forces not to comply with Prigozhin’s orders and detain him.
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The Washington Post reported Sunday that US intelligence agencies learned that Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), might be planning a mutiny and alerted the White House and other government agencies so they wouldn't be caught off guard.
Although the specifics of Prigozhin's plans remained unclear, one source claimed that "there were enough signals to be able to tell the leadership... that something was up."
According to unidentified sources quoted in the newspaper, the White House, top officials at the Department of State, the Pentagon, and members of Congress were informed by the intelligence agencies over the last two weeks.
Meanwhile, The New York Times said the US spy services were reluctant to declassify the material because of fear that Russia would accuse them of planning a coup. According to the investigation, they also showed "little interest" in assisting Russian authorities.
