Lukashenko tells how the scraps flew behind the scenes: this is how the attempted coup of Prigozhin was averted

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According to Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko, Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin initially relied on a violent solution during Wagner’s mercenary revolt.

Putin called him Saturday morning and described the situation to him, Lukashenko said on Tuesday, according to the Belarusian state news agency Belta. He understood that the difficult decision had already been made in the Kremlin to “kill” the Wagner people, Lukashenko said. He then had a telephone connection with the mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin.

“In the first round, we only talked to each other with swear words for 30 minutes,” Lukashenko continued. Prigozhin was “euphoric”. He demanded a meeting with Putin and the surrender of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Supreme Commander Valery Gerasimov and threatened a march on Moscow. Lukashenko’s answer: “Halfway through, they will crush you like an insect.”

Lukashenko as a mediator

Only after several more rounds of talks did Prigozhin indicate in the afternoon that he would end his uprising if he and his people received security guarantees, Lukashenko said. He then offered Prigozhin to take him and the Wagner fighters to his country.

According to official information, Lukashenko, a close ally of the Kremlin chief, mediated the short uprising of the Wagner mercenaries between Putin and Prigozhin on Saturday and persuaded him to give up. In return, the Kremlin assured Prigozhin of impunity. On the other hand, he offered the insurgent Wagner fighters to serve in the Russian armed forces. But like Prigozhin, they could also travel to Belarus at their own request, it was said.

Advance stopped 200 kilometers from Moscow

Prigozhin, 62, whose mercenaries previously fought alongside the regular Russian army in the offensive war against Ukraine, escalated a long-simmering power struggle in the Russian military leadership on Saturday. Wagner fighters occupied the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don and marched on towards Moscow.

Their virtually unopposed advance stopped just over 200 kilometers from the Russian capital. According to official information, Lukashenko is said to have mediated with Prigozhin on Putin’s behalf and persuaded the mercenary to give up. In return, the Kremlin assured Prigozhin of impunity. (zis/SDA)

Source: Blick