Moscow lifts Wagner mutiny security measures; Defence Minister makes first public appearance
The Hindu
The Russian capital Moscow on Monday lifted an “anti-terrorist” security regime it had imposed over the weekend when mutinous Wagner mercenaries threatened to storm the city.
The Russian capital Moscow on Monday lifted an “anti-terrorist” security regime it had imposed over the weekend when mutinous Wagner mercenaries threatened to storm the city.
The city’s mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, announced the decision on his Telegram account, thanking Muscovites for their “calm and understanding” during the crisis.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu made his first public appearance since a mercenary uprising demanded his ouster, inspecting troops in Ukraine Monday in a video released by his ministry.
Also read: Wagner group mutiny exposes chinks in Putin’s armoured regime
The video showed Shoigu flying in a helicopter and then attending a meeting with military officers at a military headquarters in Ukraine, showing the Minister for the first time since Prigozhin declared a “march of justice” to oust the Defence Minister late Friday, during which the mercenaries captured the southern city of Rostov-on-Don and then marched on Moscow.
He’s the first of three powerful Russian leaders whose diverging interests led to the Wagner Group occupying a Russian city and marching on the capital to be seen since the revolt ended Saturday. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin have made no public statements since then.
The rebellion ended on Saturday when Prigozhin ordered his troops back. The Kremlin said it had made a deal that the mercenary chief will move to Belarus and receive an amnesty, along with his soldiers.
