This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-66029382
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Wagner group to hand over heavy weapons as FSB drops mutiny charges | Wagner group to hand over heavy weapons as FSB drops mutiny charges |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Wagner mercenaries in Rostov-on-Don on Saturday | Wagner mercenaries in Rostov-on-Don on Saturday |
| The Wagner mercenary group will be disarmed but will escape prosecution over its short-lived rebellion on Saturday, Russian authorities say. | The Wagner mercenary group will be disarmed but will escape prosecution over its short-lived rebellion on Saturday, Russian authorities say. |
| Preparations are under way for the group to hand over its heavy weapons and equipment to the Russian army, the defence ministry said. | Preparations are under way for the group to hand over its heavy weapons and equipment to the Russian army, the defence ministry said. |
| Criminal charges have also been dropped against those who took part in the mutiny, the FSB security service said. | Criminal charges have also been dropped against those who took part in the mutiny, the FSB security service said. |
| It comes after the Wagner revolt rocked Russia. | It comes after the Wagner revolt rocked Russia. |
| On Saturday, mercenary troops led by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin took over the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, marched on Moscow and shot down Russian military helicopters and a plane on their way. | On Saturday, mercenary troops led by Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin took over the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, marched on Moscow and shot down Russian military helicopters and a plane on their way. |
| Their mutiny was later aborted after a deal was struck with the help of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Under the terms of the deal, Prigozhin was expected to head to Belarus. | Their mutiny was later aborted after a deal was struck with the help of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. Under the terms of the deal, Prigozhin was expected to head to Belarus. |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Wagner had been fully funded by the defence ministry and state budget, receiving 86.262bn roubles ($1bn) from May 2022 to May 2023 alone for "salaries and bonuses". | |
| He added that the authorities would investigate how the money paid to Wagner and its leader was spent. | |
| Earlier, a private jet, linked to Prigozhin, landed in the capital Minsk. It is not clear yet whether he was on board, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said he had no information on Prigozhin's whereabouts. | |
| What is the Wagner mercenary group? | What is the Wagner mercenary group? |
| Yevgeny Prigozhin: From Putin's chef to rebel in chief | Yevgeny Prigozhin: From Putin's chef to rebel in chief |
| Meanwhile the FSB security force also announced that the case against the Wagner fighters - who were facing prosecution for armed insurrection - was now closed because the mutineers had stopped short of actually committing a crime. | Meanwhile the FSB security force also announced that the case against the Wagner fighters - who were facing prosecution for armed insurrection - was now closed because the mutineers had stopped short of actually committing a crime. |
| Its fighters can either join the regular army, go home or head for Belarus, Mr Putin said, adding that the fighters were mostly "patriots" who had been misled into a criminal adventure. | |
| The latest announcements came after an angry speech by President Putin on Monday evening, in which he accused the mutiny leaders of wanting "to see Russia choked in bloody strife". | The latest announcements came after an angry speech by President Putin on Monday evening, in which he accused the mutiny leaders of wanting "to see Russia choked in bloody strife". |
| Mr Putin later told Russian troops in Moscow they had prevented a "civil war" and held a minute's silence for those killed. | |
| He insisted that the Wagner forces never had the support of the army or the people, although crowds cheered and applauded Wagner troops as they left Rostov-on-Don. | He insisted that the Wagner forces never had the support of the army or the people, although crowds cheered and applauded Wagner troops as they left Rostov-on-Don. |
| The treatment of the mercenaries stands in marked contrast to the treatment of opposition politicians and activists, many of whom are in prison simply for speaking out against the war in Ukraine. | The treatment of the mercenaries stands in marked contrast to the treatment of opposition politicians and activists, many of whom are in prison simply for speaking out against the war in Ukraine. |
| Opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, for example, is serving 25 years for treason. | Opposition activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, for example, is serving 25 years for treason. |
| By contrast, Wagner chief Prigozhin and the armed men who took part in the rebellion are seemingly being allowed to go free. | By contrast, Wagner chief Prigozhin and the armed men who took part in the rebellion are seemingly being allowed to go free. |
| Prigozhin has defended his actions, insisting the revolt was not meant to be a challenge to the leadership of Mr Putin. | Prigozhin has defended his actions, insisting the revolt was not meant to be a challenge to the leadership of Mr Putin. |
| Rather, he described it as a bid to save his mercenary group from being absorbed into the Russian army, and to expose the failures of the country's military leadership. | Rather, he described it as a bid to save his mercenary group from being absorbed into the Russian army, and to expose the failures of the country's military leadership. |
| Watch: The day Wagner chief went rogue... in 96 seconds | Watch: The day Wagner chief went rogue... in 96 seconds |
| Watch: The day Wagner chief went rogue... in 96 seconds | Watch: The day Wagner chief went rogue... in 96 seconds |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Russia-Ukraine war | Russia-Ukraine war |
| Belarus | Belarus |
| Russia | Russia |
| Vladimir Putin | Vladimir Putin |