Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed for the first time the details of his meeting with Yevgeny Prigozhin and other commanders of the Wagner group, which took place five days after the mercenary group’s failed rebellion.
In an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant, Putin said he offered Wagner fighters options to meet “in one place” and “continue to serve”.
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“All of them could meet in one place and continue to serve. Nothing would change for them. They would be led by the same person who was their actual commander all along.“, Putin said about the content of his proposal to Wagner in a meeting with 35 commanders of the group in the Kremlin on June 29.
According to the newspaper, the person the Russian leader was referring to is a commander of Wagner known as Sedói (Gray Hair).
Putin assured that after hearing the proposal, many of those present at the meeting began to nod their headsbut Prigozhin did not see it and replied that the guys did not agree.
To the journalist’s question Kommersat on whether Wagner will be preserved as a combat unit after the failed mutiny, Putin replied that this private military company “does not exist.”
That matter should be debated in the Duma
“We don’t have a law on private military organizations, that’s why (Wagner) doesn’t exist,” Putin said, adding that it is a legal issue related to the “real legalization” of this type of paramilitary companies.
“This matter must be debated in the Duma (lower house of Parliament and the Government. It is not an easy matter,” he said.
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According to what the Kremlin said this week, in the meeting with Wagner on June 29, Putin listened to “the commanders’ explanations” about the mutiny that they staged five days ago and offered them employment options after the rebellion.
“The commanders themselves presented their version of what happened and stressed that they were staunch supporters and soldiers of the head of state and the commander in chief“, said the spokesman of the Russian Presidency, Dmitri Peskov.
Wagner’s leaders “also said they were willing to continue fighting for the Fatherland,” he added.
EFE
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