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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."

On Saturday Wagner troops took control of Rostov. The town is a strategic weapons hub located near the border with Ukraine. And the mercenaries moved towards Moscow before turning back.

Prigozhin had his troops turn around saying he did not want Russians fighting Russians.

The Kremlin later said it would drop treason charges against Prigozhin and his followers. And claimed that Prigozhin was going to Belarus.

In his statement, Prigozhin said the Belarus president had offered ways how the Wagner group could continue to operate. 

"Lukashenko held out his hand and offered to find solutions for the continuation of the work of the Wagner private military company in a legal jurisdiction," he said.

The Wagner Group was unacknowledged by Russia until war broke out with Ukraine. Then Putin’s private army went public. And for months Prigozhin has been in open conflict with Moscow. 

Confusion at Wagner HQ

On Monday, the headquarters of the mercenary group said it was continuing to work in "normal mode."

"Despite events that have taken place, the center continues to work in normal mode in accordance with the law of the Russian Federation," the Saint Petersburg Wagner headquarters in Saint Petersburg, issued a statement.

It said Wagner has "worked for the future of Russia" thanking its supporters. They also claimed the group "created opportunities for the (self) realization of talented people from all over the country".

It said explained that Wagner had been developing "domestic drones." And also worked on "preparing information fighters and countering the information war".

Prigozhin has recently become a high-profile social media presence. He reportedly runs an infamous troll farm in Saint Petersburg. 

Despite Putin calling Wagner’s actions "treason" and warning of civil war, some of the group's offices around Russia were still recruiting fighters, Russian media reported.

Uncertain future

Prigozhin had recruited thousands from Russian prisons to fight in Ukraine. They were promised, an amnesty upon their return if they survived. 

The TASS state news agency said Wagner recruitment reopened in Siberia's Novosibirsk and Tyumen. 

"Recruitment is ongoing," TASS quoted a source at Wagner. 

In Russia's lower house of parliament, the Duma, lawmakers reportedly said the group could no longer recruit convicts. 

"There was a time when (Wagner) could take those who were convicted and sign a contract with them," senior lawmaker Pavel Krasheninnikov said.

"Now the law says there is a different procedure, under which contracts can only be signed with the defense ministry."