2023-06-26 19:09:00
In a televised address, President Putin said he had given the order “to avoid bloodshed” which he believed Ukraine and the West wanted during the failed rebellion of the paramilitary group Wagner, thanking the Russians for their ” patriotism” and their unity.
“I thank you (the Russians) for your resilience, your unity and your patriotism. This citizen solidarity has shown that any blackmail (…) is doomed to failure,” he said. “From the beginning of the events, measures were taken on my direct instructions in order to avoid a great bloodshed,” Putin said in a televised address, judging that the West, Ukraine wanted ” such a fratricidal outcome”.
“An armed insurrection would have been crushed anyway,” he insists.
He then offered Wagner’s fighters to join the regular Russian army, or “return to their families” or leave for Belarus. “My promise will be kept”. He also thanked “Wagner’s soldiers and fighters who made the right decision to quit.”
On the other hand, “the organizers of this uprising must be brought to justice”.
In Moscow, apparent calm, rumors and internal conflicts: “They made 800 km without hindrance, proof that he is supported by many people”
Vladimir Putin is now meeting with his main security officials, the Kremlin announced, following the Russian president’s short address to the nation. “Vladimir Putin is in a working meeting” with, in particular, Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov, Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Director of the FSB (security service) Alexander Bortnikov and the head of the National Guard Viktor Zolotov, specified the spokesman of the presidency Dmitry Peskov, quoted by the public agency Ria Novosti.
The Russian leader took the opportunity to thank state security officials for their work during the Wagner Group rebellion. “I have called you together to thank you for the work done during these few days and to discuss the situation,” Putin said during the meeting, which was held in the presence of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu but in the presence of absence of Chief of Staff Valéri Guerassimov, the two declared enemies of Wagner’s chief, Evguéni Prigojine.
Belarusian president will speak ‘very soon’
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko will also “very soon” deliver a speech, two days following the abortive rebellion of the paramilitary group Wagner, announced a Telegram channel close to the leader. “A lot of questions, insinuations, versions and suppositions… The (president) will say everything, answer everything. Very soon!”, indicated the Telegram channel close to the Belarusian presidency.
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