Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Saturday his forces were ready to help put down a mutiny by Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and to use harsh methods if necessary.
Armed uprising U-turns to Belarus
In a bizarre twist, the mercenary commander who had ordered his troops to march on Moscow abruptly reversed course. And just hours after Putin’s promising harsh and quick payback to the Wagner Group, the Kremlin announced that Wagner will move to neighboring Belarus and not face any prosecution.
The uprising is said to represent the most significant challenge to President Vladimir Putin in his more than two decades in power.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov issued a statement saying all charges against Yevgeny Prigozhin will be dropped. And troops who joined him also will not be prosecuted. Meanwhile, Wagner Group fighters who did not take part in the uprising will be offered contracts by the Defense Ministry.
And just hours before
Yevgeny Prigozhin reportedly gained control of at least some part of the city of Rostov which has a population of 1 million.
