2023-07-07 18:15:07
2023-07-08 02:15 Compiled by United Daily News Luo Fangyu/Comprehensive report Prigozin, head of the Russian mercenary organization Wagner Group. (Associated Press)
Belarusian President Lukashenko confirmed on the 6th that Prigezin, the head of the Russian mercenary “Wagner” group who fled to Belarus in a flash mutiny, has returned to Russia. The Wall Street Journal reported that this will pose a new challenge to the prestige of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Lukashenko reached an agreement with Prigozin last month to stop marching into the Russian capital Moscow and promised him that he would travel safely to Belarus. He said on the 6th that Prigozin is no longer in Belarusian territory. The Russian media “Interfax” quoted Kremlin spokesman Peskov as saying: “We have no ability and intention to track his movements.”
A “Paper Airplane” channel called “Wagner Group” claimed to be recruiting personnel on the 6th, and was quoted by people who were said to be Wagner fighters. It also called on the channel’s nearly 250,000 subscribers to attend a rally in St. Wagner merchandise such as T-shirts and stickers.
Wagner’s recruiters in St. Petersburg said the rally they had announced was “just a rally and has no other purpose” and that Prigezin was not expected to attend. Spokespeople for the Kremlin and Wagner did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
If Prigozin is indeed in Russia, his presence will weaken Putin’s authority. After Putin’s leadership ability faced the most serious challenge in his 23 years in power, people further doubted Putin’s authority. Some analysts say it has also raised questions about how Prigozin, who has pushed Russia to the brink of civil war, will remain unscathed.
Russian social media has recently been flooded with reports of Prigezin sightings in St. Petersburg. As Russia increasingly actively controls public opinion about Wagner and Prigezin, Russian state media later on the 6th showed a video of the raid on Prigezin’s mansion and office in St. Putin’s ally, now Prigezin’s enemy.
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