Mercenary group Wagner spared prosecution in Belarus-brokered agreement, easing tensions in Russia

Moscow, June 25: In a significant development, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary force who had turned against Moscow's military leadership, is scheduled to leave for Belarus as the criminal case against him is being dropped, according to the Kremlin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the primary goal was to prevent bloodshed, internal conflict, and unpredictable outcomes.

As per the agreement brokered by Belarusian President Aleksander Lukashenko, Wagner fighters will not face prosecution, and their heroic contributions on the frontlines have always been respected, Peskov added.

He further explained that an arrangement had been reached for Wagner to return to their bases, and those fighters who had not participated in the rebellion would have the opportunity to officially join the Russian army.

Prigozhin called off the advancement of his troops toward Moscow on Saturday, effectively defusing what could have been Russia's most severe security crisis in decades. The conflict between Wagner's chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, and Russia's military high command had escalated, leading to the capture of a crucial army headquarters in southern Russia by mercenaries who subsequently headed north to threaten the capital.

Peskov clarified that Wagner's failed rebellion would not have any impact on Russia's campaign against Kyiv, stating that such a notion was entirely out of the question. The Kremlin expressed gratitude to Lukashenko for his mediation role in resolving the crisis.

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Also Read: Russia Crisis: Prigozhin's Wagner group inches closer to Moscow; know what's happening in Russia

- With inputs from agencies

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