Putin speaks on Wagner mercenaries’ mutiny, silent on Prigozhin

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday made a statement to the nation about Saturday’s aborted armed mutiny, that rattled his government.

He thanked Wagner mercenary fighters and commanders who had stood down to avoid bloodshed.

Putin said he would honour his promise to allow Wagner fighters to relocate to Belarus if they wanted, or to sign a contract with the Defence Ministry or simply return to their families.

He made no mention of mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin, who led the mutiny and who said his armed rebellion was a mere ‘protest’ for the killing of his fighters by Russian jet.

Putin thanked the nation for unity, adding that all necessary decisions to neutralise threat were taken at the very beginning.

According to him, “the mutiny would have been suppressed anyway” as “organisers realised their actions were criminal”.

Putin told Russians those who staged the “mutiny” wanted Russia to lose “and our society to drown in blood, but they miscalculated”.

He went on to thank all security services “who stayed loyal to their oath” as well as pilots who died.

He added that steps were taken to avoid major bloodshed, “but it took time”.

“This civic solidarity has shown that any blackmail and attempts to arrange internal unrest are doomed to failure. I repeat – the highest consolidation of society, executive and legislative power was shown at all levels,” the Russian president told Russians.

Putin added that “a firm, unequivocal position of support for the constitutional order was taken by public organisations, religious denominations, leading political parties – in fact, by the entire Russian society.”

“I thank Wagner soldiers and commanders who did not shed blood – you can sign a contract with the Ministry of Defence, or move to Belarus,” he said.