The Russian president gave a short speech to the citizens on Monday evening. Putin explained the resolution of the rebellion with the need to mediate the bloodshed among Russia’s own soldiers.
Saana Uosukainen,
Leonard Wilhelmus,
Heikki Heiskanen
Russia president Vladimir Putin gave a speech on Monday on state television. The speech was pre-recorded and lasted a few minutes. Putin commented on the Wagner rebellion for the first time since its end.
Putin said that most of Wagner’s soldiers are patriots and thanked Wagner’s commanders and soldiers who avoided the massacre.
In a televised speech that was cut short, Putin said that the soldiers of the mercenary company Wagner can go to Belarus, join the Russian forces or go home to their families if they want.
Earlier on Monday, the Russian opposition media Vjorstka reported that a camp for Wagner’s soldiers has started to be built in Belarus.
In his speech, Putin thanked the citizens for their unity.
– This solidarity of the citizens showed that any blackmail, any attempt to create internal chaos is doomed to failure, Putin said.
According to Putin, the organizers of the uprising, while betraying their country and people, also betrayed those they dragged into the crime.
He said that this is the kind of bloodshed Russia’s enemies want.
At this point, Putin listed the enemy images according to the Russian regime’s war propaganda: “Kiev’s neo-Nazis, their Western supporters and all kinds of national traitors.”
Putin did not mention Prigozhin by name
In his speech, Putin tried to combine the harsh condemnation of treason with the fact that the Wagner fighters participating in the rebellion are not punished.
In his words of thanks, Putin mentioned the pilots who lost their lives when Wagner fighters shot down Russian Armed Forces planes and helicopters during the uprising.
Putin did not say a word about the founder of the Wagner company From Yevgeny Prigozhinwhich was the face of the rebellion.
On Saturday evening, it was reported that the criminal investigation against Prigožin for organizing an armed rebellion will be suspended and he will leave for Belarus. Today, Monday, the Russian media reported that the investigation has not been finished.
Putin’s speech was announced just a moment earlier on Monday evening. The Russian media say the Kremlin spokesperson is the source Dmitry Peskov.
Earlier, the Russian news agency Interfax reported that also the president of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko a speech was to be given. The British newspaper The Guardian now reports that, according to the press office of the President of Belarus, Lukashenko will no longer make a statement today.
Source: Reuters