Loading ...More mystery — Belarus says Wagner’s Prigozhin is in Russia, raising questions about Putin deal
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that the mutinous chief of Russia’s Wagner group was still in Russia with thousands of fighters, but dismissed speculation that President Vladimir Putin would have Yevgeny Prigozhin killed.
But in comments that raised questions about the deal, Lukashenko said Prigozhin and his fighters were still in Russia, and that it was possible they would not move to Belarus.
Lukashenko nevertheless said the deal had been complied with, and that he stood by his offer to host Wagner – a prospect that has alarmed neighbouring NATO countries – and would speak to Putin shortly.
Prigozhin “is not on the territory of Belarus,” Lukashenko told reporters in Minsk’s vast Independence Palace. “He is in Petersburg… perhaps he went to Moscow this morning.”