Putin’s Pledge: Halting Wagner’s Armed Rebellion After ‘Stab in the Back

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has successfully brokered a deal with Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeniy Prigozhin, putting an end to an attempted armed rebellion against the Russian government. Prigozhin had announced on Friday that his Wagner mercenaries would lead a “march of justice” against the Russian army. However, the attempted coup d’état came to a halt on Saturday evening when the group arrived within 200 kilometers of Moscow, with Prigozhin claiming that he wanted to avoid spilling Russian blood.

The Belarusian foreign ministry took to Twitter to announce that Lukashenko had engaged in negotiations with Prigozhin throughout the day on Saturday. The Wagner group leader ultimately accepted the Belarusian president’s proposal to end their march on Moscow.

Alexander Lukashenko, often referred to as Europe’s last dictator, has been the disputed president of Belarus for nearly 29 years, assuming office in July 1994. He began his sixth term in office after the controversial August 2020 Belarusian presidential election, which was widely regarded as fraudulent by Western countries. In response, hundreds of thousands of Belarusians took to the streets to protest Lukashenko’s attempts to hold onto power.

Lukashenko is known for his close alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Following the 2020 Belarusian election and the subsequent wave of protests, Putin offered military support to Lukashenko. Additionally, Lukashenko supported Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, allowing the Russian military to invade Ukraine from Belarusian territory.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader, is Lukashenko’s main political opponent. She challenged Lukashenko in the 2020 election after her husband, Sergei Tikhanovsky, was arrested and prevented from running. Tsikhanouskaya was forced to flee Belarus after the election and currently resides in exile in Europe. Belarusian authorities have sentenced her to prison in-absentia.

The recent deal between Lukashenko and Prigozhin marks a significant development in the ongoing political landscape of Belarus and its relationship with Russia. The repercussions of this agreement are yet to be fully understood, but it is clear that Lukashenko’s grip on power and his alliance with Putin remain strong.

How has the recent deal between Lukashenko and Prigozhin impacted the political landscape in Belarus?

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has pulled off a surprising diplomatic feat, putting an end to an attempted armed rebellion against the Russian government. Lukashenko successfully negotiated with Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner mercenary group, to halt their “march of justice” against the Russian army.

Prigozhin had previously declared his intention to march on Moscow, but the situation took a dramatic turn when his group arrived within 200 kilometers of the Russian capital. Prigozhin, apparently seeking to avoid bloodshed, agreed to Lukashenko’s proposal to call off the operation.

This turn of events highlights the complex political landscape in Belarus, where Lukashenko has held onto power for almost three decades. Following the disputed 2020 presidential election, which sparked widespread protests, Lukashenko solidified his alliance with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In return for military support, Lukashenko allowed Russia to invade Ukraine from Belarusian territory.

Amidst this political turmoil, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the opposition leader, emerged as Lukashenko’s main challenger. After her husband was detained and prevented from running in the election, Tsikhanouskaya bravely stepped into the spotlight. However, she was eventually forced to flee Belarus and is currently living in exile in Europe.

The recent deal between Lukashenko and Prigozhin has significant implications for Belarus and its relationship with Russia. While the full consequences are yet to be seen, it is clear that Lukashenko’s hold on power and his partnership with Putin remain robust. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the future of Belarus hangs in the balance.