Peskov: Prigozhin "will leave" to Belarus

Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday evening: “The criminal case against Yevgeny Prigozhin will be stopped, the founder of the Wagner PMC will go to Belarus, the Kremlin will not put obstacles in his way.”

The main points of Peskov’s statement leads TASS:

1. The supreme goal was to avoid bloodshed and internal confrontation, Lukashenka’s efforts were directed towards this.
2. Moscow highly appreciates his mediation efforts. It was a personal initiative of Lukashenka, he has known Prigozhin for 20 years.
3. The situation was resolved without further losses, without increasing the level of tension. PMC will return to location.
4. The criminal case against Prigozhin will be terminated, he will “leave for Belarus”, but it is not known who will work there. Peskov also does not know where Prigogine is now.
5. Some of the fighters who wish will sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense. These are those who did not take part in the campaign, changed their minds and returned.
6. Fighters from PMC “Wagner”, who participated in today’s events, will not be prosecuted.
7. The situation will in no way affect the course of the NMD, the fighters successfully repel the counteroffensive, the operation will continue.
8. Putin has been working in the Kremlin all day, his new televised address is not planned.
9. The regime of the counter-terrorist operation “will be canceled in the near future.”

Peskov is not aware of any changes in Putin’s confidence in the defense minister, and personnel changes in the department were hardly discussed during contacts to resolve the rebellion. On Saturday evening, the President of Russia thanked the head of the Republic of Belarus for his work by phone to resolve the situation with PMC “Wagner”, the press service of Alexander Lukashenko said.

On Sunday morning the whereabouts of the head of Wagner was unknown, writes euronews. Having promised to “liberate the Russian people” and sent his mercenaries to Moscow, Prigogine eventually abandoned this intentionso as not to shed “Russian blood”. On Sunday night, a convoy with equipment and fighters of the Wagner PMC left Rostov-on-Don to the cheers of the residents and headed for field camps.

Restrictions on highways of the Rostov, Lipetsk, Voronezh regions have been lifted. In the Moscow and Tula regions, restrictions remain on Sunday morning, Rosavtodor said. Metropolitan transport continues to operate as usual.

“March of justice” to Moscow will not remain without consequences for PMC “Wagner” and its leader, analysts predict. Center for Naval Analysis researcher Samuel Bendett tweeted:

“Otherwise, the signal is that the military might openly challenge the state.” Whereas until now “the Russian state actually has a monopoly on violence within the country.”

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