JABAR ESKPRES – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed that the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, had arrived in his country on Tuesday (27/6).
“Yes, he is in Belarus today,” Lukashenko told a press conference in Minsk.
Lukashenko said he offered Wagner’s group a defunct military site where the mercenaries could temporarily live while thinking about their next move.
There are no recruitment points for Wagner soldiers in Belarus, he said, but Belarusian citizens can join the group.
However, Lukashenko warned of the danger of death for those who decide to work as mercenaries.
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Lukashenko also said he consulted with Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, who said Wagner’s experience would be useful to the army.
When asked about the cause of Wagner’s mutiny, he cited a personal conflict between Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu and Prigozhin that escalated into a fight.
“I know Shoygu’s performance. He should not be criticized sometimes,” Lukashenko said.
Lukashenko asked that he not be called an arbiter, as the issue is common to both Russia and Belarus.
He also said lessons should be learned from last weekend’s rebellious situation.
“We need to pay more attention to such military groups if we have produced them, and we need to respond to their requests in time,” Lukashenko said.
