The Wagner mercenary leader insists his aim was not to overthrow Putin’s government. It was a peaceful protest.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is head of the Wagner mercenary forces. And was in charge when the private army mutinied in Russia. He just issued an 11-minute audio statement explaining why the group’s march on Moscow was halted.
The last time he was seen in public was on Saturday. He was spotted leaving the head Russian Southern military district headquarters in the city of Rostov-on-Don. His current location is unknown.
Peaceful protest
During his statement, Prigozhin said the so-called march on Moscow exposed “’very serious” security problems in Russia. And he denied he was trying to overthrow the government.
The aim, he said, was to save his embattled mercenary outfit. “We went to demonstrate our protest and not to overthrow power in the country.
Prigozhin says Wagner has wide support throughout Russia. And that during the march toward Moscow, the citizens encouraged them.
“In Russian towns, civilians met us with Russian flags and the symbols of Wagner,” Prigozhin said. “They were all happy when we passed through.”
