Putin kept his promise, withdrawing the cases against Wagner Group chiefs and fighters

World

oi-Prakash Kumar Bhavanji

Charges have been dropped against Yevgeny Prigogine, head of the Wagner Group, which rebelled against Putin, and others involved in the armed uprising with him.

Russia’s Defense Ministry issued a statement on Tuesday saying it had closed a criminal investigation into an armed coup led by Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigogine.

The Federal Security Service (FSB) said its investigation found that those involved in the coup had ceased activities aimed at crime. Earlier, the Kremlin had vowed not to prosecute the head of the Wagner group and his fighters after the coup was halted on Saturday.

In the statement, the Ministry of Defense also said that Wagner Group is preparing to hand over heavy military equipment to the country’s army. On June 23, fighters of the Wagner Group moved out to take control of Moscow.

In the meantime he had captured the city of Rostov. However, after the intervention of Belarus and several assurances, the Wagner fighters were turned back.

After this, Russian President Putin addressed the country on Monday and called the Wagner Group fighters true patriots. Putin said that the fighters of the Wagner group are true patriots who cannot betray their country and citizens.

Putin further said that some people kept soldiers in the dark and made them stand with guns in front of their own brothers. With whom he once fought shoulder to shoulder.

Putin offered the Wagner fighters that the soldiers could either join the Russian army or return home. Along with this, he also gave the fighters an option to go to Belarus.