In a revealing announcement, Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, claims that he intervened to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin from eliminating Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of a mercenary group. The Kremlin had perceived Prigozhin's actions as a mutinous attempt threatening to plunge Russia into a civil war.
Putin had initially expressed a determination to quell the mutiny, likening it to the tumultuous events leading to the 1917 revolution and ensuing civil war. However, a resolution was reached within hours allowing Prigozhin and several of his fighters to relocate to Belarus. Prigozhin arrived in Belarus from Russia on Tuesday.
During a meeting with military officials and reporters, Lukashenko described a phone call with Putin using Russian underworld lingo synonymous with 'eliminating' or 'wiping out' someone.
"I understood that a severe decision was imminent, as hinted at in Putin's tone, to obliterate the mutineers," Lukashenko narrated the conversation, according to Belarusian state media.
He continued, "I advised Putin to hesitate, I suggested we converse with Prigozhin and his chiefs. Putin retorted, 'Sasha, it's futile. He's not answering calls, and he doesn't wish to communicate with anyone.'"
Interestingly, Putin employed the same verb in 1999 when vowing to "wipe out" Chechen rebels, an emblematic quote exemplifying his hardened approach.
No immediate response came from the Kremlin concerning Lukashenko's statements, which offer unusual glimpses into the inner deliberations of the Kremlin during a period when Russia, as per Putin's account, stood on the precipice of an unseen chaos for decades.
Lukashenko, who shares a close bond with both Putin and Prigozhin, advised Putin to consider the broader implications. He warned that Prigozhin's extermination could trigger a general insurrection by his combatants.
Furthermore, Lukashenko suggested that his own military could profit from the expertise of Wagner's troops, who, as per the agreement with the Kremlin, can now relocate to Belarus.
BelTA state agency quoted Lukashenko, stating, "This is the most seasoned unit in the army. Who could argue with that? We lack such individuals in Belarus."
Later, Lukashenko advised his military, "Many overlook our pragmatic approach... The Wagner group has battlefield experience. They can guide us on weaponry - what's effective and what's not."
Prigozhin ceased his alleged "march of justice" on Moscow from Rostov-on-Don, a southern city within 200 kilometers of the capital, following Lukashenko's mediation.
