BY TYLER DURDEN
MONDAY, JUN 26, 2023 – 10:48 PM
Update(1648ET): Within hours ahead of Putin’s big speech Monday evening (local time), the Kremlin touted there would be several “major” announcements, but there was really nothing earth-shattering. In fact much of the fairly short address to the nation on the Wagner rebellion was a reiteration of prior Kremlin statements, and it didn’t exactly appear ‘tough’.
While Putin stressed that “traitors will face justice” and that “we defeated a colossal threat” – he at the same time seemed to offer a bit of an olive branch. “At the same time we knew and know that the vast majority of the fighters and commanders of the Wagner group are also patriots of Russia, devoted to their people and the state,” Putin said. He said Wagner fighters could sign contracts with the Russian army. “Today you have the opportunity to continue serving Russia by entering into a contract with the Ministry of Defense or other law enforcement agencies, or to return to your family and friends. Anyone who wants to can go to Belarus,” he said of the mutineers. ”
The promise I made will be fulfilled. I repeat, the choice is yours, but I am sure it will be the choice of Russian soldiers who have realized their tragic mistake.”
And yet at this moment the FSB and Russian Prosecutor’s Office have made statements implying the criminal case for treason is still open against Prigozhin, who is presumably now in Belarus. And more from the Putin speech:
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