Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on the evening of June 24 that the criminal case against Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner private military group, would be dropped, TASS news agency reported.
“People ask me what will happen to Mr Prigozhin. A criminal case against him will be dropped, while he will go to Belarus,” Mr Peskov said.
Prigozhin's criminal case overturned, Russian military signs contract with Wagner member
The Kremlin spokesman said Russian President Vladimir Putin had given assurances that Mr Prigozhin would be able to leave Russia for Belarus. "If people ask me what guarantees Mr Prigozhin will be able to go to Belarus, then it is the word of the Russian president," Mr Peskov stressed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the nation on June 24
On the same day, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Putin spoke with Mr. Prigozhin to outline a plan to de-escalate the situation. After the meeting, Mr. Prigozhin said that Wagner forces were halting and turning back convoys, as well as returning to field camps.
The Kremlin said Mr Lukashenko volunteered to mediate because he had known Mr Prigozhin for about 20 years. "This was his (Mr Lukashenko's) personal initiative and was coordinated with President Putin," Mr Peskov said. The Russian side highly appreciated Mr Lukashenko's mediation efforts to resolve the situation.
Quick view: What hot developments happened in the Russian military campaign in Ukraine on day 485?
Earlier, in a phone call with President Putin on June 24, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara is ready to help resolve the situation in Russia peacefully as soon as possible, the Turkish presidential office announced to the media.
In another development, the Russian Federal Roads Agency (Rosavtodor) told TASS that all road traffic restrictions imposed yesterday have been lifted. Restrictions were previously imposed on roads in Russia's Rostov, Lipetsk, Tula and some other regions.
TASS reported that all heavy military equipment, including tanks, as well as Wagner fighters have now completely left the premises of the headquarters of Russia's Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don (Rostov Oblast) on June 24. Currently, this convoy is idling in the city center.
President Putin: Mr. Prigozhin's actions betray Russia and Wagner soldiers
Rostov Governor Vasily Golubev confirmed that Wagner military vehicles and fighter jets had left Rostov-on-Don on the evening of June 24. "The Wagner group of fighters has left Rostov [-on-Don] and is heading towards their field camps," he reported.
Mr Peskov told reporters that authorities would not prosecute Wagner fighters who took part in the rebellion effort, given their achievements on the front line.
Mr. Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don on the evening of June 24.
Reuters
Yesterday, the White House said that US President Joe Biden spoke by phone with the leaders of France, Germany and the UK to discuss the situation in Russia, according to AFP news agency.
US State Department spokesman Matt Miller said that after the leaders' call, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone with his counterparts from Western Europe and Japan, in which the partners pledged "close coordination". Mr. Blinken also reiterated that US support for Ukraine "will not change". European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Josep Borrell avoided direct comment on what he called Russia's "internal" issue. However, he said he had activated the EU's crisis response center and was coordinating officials in the bloc ahead of a June 26 meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. He also stressed that EU support for Ukraine would not be diminished.
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