To 'avoid bloodshed', Wagner chief agrees to Minsk offer to deescalate

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
24 Jun 2023 21:25
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Prigozhin confirms that PMC Wagner is turning its troop columns back and moving back to its field camps.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin (AFP)

The head of the Wagner Group private military company (PMC), Yevgeny Prigozhin, has accepted the proposal of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of Wagner fighters in Russia and take further steps to de-escalate the situation, the Belarusian presidential office announced on Saturday.

On Saturday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin briefed his Belarusian counterpart on the situation in southern Russia around the Wagner PMC, with the two leaders agreeing on coordinated actions, Lukashenko's office mentioned in a statement.

"In line with the agreements and as agreed with the Russian president, the Belarusian president held talks with the head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, after additionally clarifying the situation via its own channels," the statement read.

It continued, "As a result, agreements on the unacceptability of unleashing a bloody slaughter on the Russian territory were reached. Yevgeny Prigozhin has accepted the proposal of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of Wagner troops on the Russian territory and take further steps to de-escalate tensions."

On his part, Prigozhin confirmed that PMC Wagner is turning its troop columns back and moving back to its field camps.

"Understanding all responsibility that Russian blood from one of the sides could be spilled, we are turning our columns back and moving to the opposite direction to field camps in accordance with plans," he announced in an audio statement released on his Telegram channel.

On Friday, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny over statements made on behalf of Prigozhin.

The FSB said there was a threat of escalation on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry said that social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on PMC Wagner camps were not true.

Earlier on Saturday, Putin delivered a televised address to the nation in which he described the actions of the Wagner Group as an armed mutiny and treason, and promised harsh measures against the insurgents.