Moscow: Russia is preparing to transfer heavy military hardware held by the Wagner mercenary group to units of the Russian armed forces. The move comes after an aborted mutiny by Wagner fighters over the weekend, which sparked Russia’s most serious security crisis in decades.
While closing all criminal cases against Wagner group, Putin said “You proved your loyalty to the people of Russia and the military oath; you showed responsibility to the fate of the motherland and its future”.
The Wagner group is a private military contractor that is widely believed to be linked to the Russian government. The group has been involved in a number of conflicts in recent years, including in Syria, Libya, and the Central African Republic.
The aborted mutiny began on Saturday, when Wagner fighters in the Central African Republic refused to obey orders to return to Russia. The fighters reportedly accused the Wagner leadership of corruption and of not paying them their salaries.
The mutiny was quickly put down by Russian security forces, but it raised serious questions about the Wagner group’s loyalty to the Russian government. In an attempt to defuse the crisis, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was forced to leave Russia for Belarus.
The transfer of Wagner hardware to the Russian army is seen as a way for the Russian government to bring the group under closer control. It is also a way for the government to show that it is not afraid to crack down on those who challenge its authority.
The transfer of Wagner hardware is likely to have a number of implications. It could increase the risk of conflict between Russia and other countries, as the Russian army will now be equipped with more powerful weapons. It could also lead to an increase in human rights abuses, as the Russian army has a history of committing abuses in conflict zones.
The transfer of Wagner hardware is a significant development in Russia’s relationship with the private military sector. It remains to be seen what the long-term implications of this move will be.
In addition to the transfer of hardware, Russia has also announced that it will be granting amnesty to the Wagner fighters who participated in the mutiny. This is seen as a way for the government to appease the fighters and to prevent them from revealing any sensitive information about the Russian government.
The transfer of Wagner hardware and the granting of amnesty to the Wagner fighters are both significant developments in Russia’s relationship with the private military sector. It remains to be seen what the long-term implications of these moves will be.