Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group and the alleged mutiny against Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been sighted entering the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) office in St. Petersburg. This revelation comes after Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko claimed to have brokered a peace agreement between Prigozhin and Putin, offering him sanctuary in Belarus.
However, Russian journalist Mikhail Zygar, who has reliable sources on the ground, has revealed that Prigozhin is actually still in St. Petersburg, contradicting the assumption of his relocation to Belarus. Zygar discovered that Prigozhin recently visited the local FSB office to retrieve weapons and personal possessions that were confiscated during the mutiny and subsequent march on Moscow.
Prigozhin broke his week-long silence by sharing an audio message on a pro-Wagner Telegram page, appealing for public support and emphasizing the mutiny’s intention to target traitors. Though the authenticity of the message remains unverified, Zygar pointed out that audio messages have been Prigozhin’s preferred mode of communication.
The reasons behind Prigozhin’s stay in Russia and Putin’s approach towards him remain unclear. Prigozhin claimed that the march on Moscow was not a direct threat against Putin but rather a demonstration of opposition against mistreatment of his contract soldiers by military leaders in the defense ministry. Defense analysts, including Zygar, believe that removing Prigozhin and his loyal forces will be no easy task, considering Putin’s reliance on them for covert missions abroad where direct Kremlin involvement is unwelcome.
With the approach of Russia’s presidential election in 2024, Putin may face pressure to take action against the mutiny attempt and hold someone accountable, even if it isn’t Prigozhin. Zygar warned that Putin might try to divert attention from domestic issues by escalating tensions abroad, such as in Ukraine.
The situation involving Prigozhin and the mutiny presents a significant challenge and potential embarrassment for Putin, leaving uncertainty over how he will handle this intricate issue.