According to Russian newspaper Kommersant, the FSB secret service in Russia is currently conducting an official investigation into Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, on suspicions of organizing an armed rebellion. The source, who remains anonymous, stated that it is too early for the FSB to reach a different decision. The information was subsequently reported by three Russian state agencies: TASS, Interfax, and RIA Novosti.
An unnamed official from the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office informed Interfax that the criminal proceedings against Prigozhin have not been terminated, and the investigation is ongoing.
The criminal proceedings against Prigozhin were initiated on Friday evening after he publicly accused the Russian army of attacking Wagner’s positions and announced his intention to march on Moscow in pursuit of justice against the leadership of the Russian armed forces. Prigozhin has long been critical of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly targeting Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
On Saturday night, Prigozhin called off the march on Moscow and stated that his fighters were returning to their camps. A Kremlin spokesperson stated that the criminal proceedings against the Wagner group’s leader had been dropped, and he would be leaving for Belarus. The spokesperson further mentioned that Wagner fighters who participated in the mutiny would not face prosecution due to their contributions during wartime. Additionally, some mercenaries who did not participate in the march were expected to sign contracts with the defense ministry.
However, the current whereabouts of Prigozhin are unknown, as noted by the BBC’s Russian-language service. It remains uncertain whether his mercenaries will continue their involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, and their status is unclear. CNN, which communicated with Prigozhin’s press service, reported this information. The press service responded by redirecting all inquiries to Yevgeny Vikotorovich (Prigozhin), stating that he would answer questions once he had access to proper means of communication.
Prigozhin’s Telegram channel, which has been active with several posts per day and numerous voice messages in recent weeks, has been silent since Saturday evening. The latest update from Prigozhin confirmed the withdrawal of his fighters from the march on Moscow. Russia claims that the campaign was halted due to an agreement brokered by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. However, Prigozhin has not confirmed this deal, as CNN points out.
