1 of 1 Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the Legislative Council of the Federal Assembly ahead of Russia’s Parliamentary Day April 28, 2023 in Saint Petersburg. — Photo: Alexey DANICHEV / SPUTNIK / AFP Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with members of the Legislative Council of the Federal Assembly ahead of the Russian Parliamentary Day in Saint Petersburg, April 28, 2023. — Photo: Alexey DANICHEV/SPUTNIK/AFP
Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the existence of the Wagner Group in an interview with the Kommersant portal published on Thursday (13). According to him, the mercenary organization cannot exist because it is not legally recognized.
“[O Grupo] “Wagner doesn’t exist,” Putin told the newspaper. “There is no law on private military organizations.” [Portanto, a organização] It just doesn’t exist.”
The organization is a private military company founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former acquaintance of the Russian President. The militia, which has already been active in armed conflicts in several countries such as Syria, Lebanon and Sudan, was a key ally of Russia in the war in Ukraine.
Now, however, the relationship between the Wagner group and the Russian government is uncertain. Because on June 24, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the organization, threatened an attack on the Russian Ministry of Defense and launched a march on Moscow. Since the uprising, mercenaries have not been used in the conflict with Ukraine and the militia’s fate is uncertain.
However, during the interview with Kommersant, Putin revealed that he held a meeting with Prigozhin and some members of the group days after the uprising. At the meeting, the Russian leader offered the Wagner Group mercenaries the opportunity to continue serving in the country’s regular army.
“They could all come together in one place and continue to serve. Nothing would change for them,” Putin said in the interview.