Russian Wagner Group Leader Comments on Lithuania’s Strengthening of Border Security with Belarus
The leader of the Russian Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has made sarcastic comments regarding Lithuania’s decision to strengthen its border security with Belarus. Prigozhin stated that he had not yet reached Minsk, but terror had already begun in European countries.
Prigozhin took to his Telegram page to publish the statements of the Lithuanian President, who called for the strengthening of NATO’s eastern wing following the decision for the Wagner commander to go to Belarus. Prigozhin suggested that these measures would not have been taken if it weren’t for his move to Belarus.
Currently, Prigozhin’s whereabouts are unknown after leaving Rostov on Saturday. The Kremlin’s statement indicated that he was heading to Belarus. It is worth noting that the armed insurrection led by Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner, came to an end after he decided to leave Russia following mediation led by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov revealed the key points of agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, as part of Minsk’s mediation to resolve the conflict through a settlement process.
The dispute between Prigozhin and senior officers of the Russian army erupted last Saturday when the fighters of the Special Military Group seized a main army headquarters in southern Russia and headed north towards the capital.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausida expressed his belief that NATO would need to strengthen its eastern wing if Belarus were to host the leader of the Russian armed Wagner group. Lithuania, located on the Baltic Sea and bordering both Russia and Belarus, is set to host a NATO summit next month.
President Nausida made this statement after chairing a meeting of the National Security Council, which focused on the one-day rebellion carried out by Wagner from Friday evening until Saturday evening, during which the fighters marched towards Moscow.
After Prigozhin ordered his forces to retreat on Saturday, Moscow announced that he would leave Russia for Belarus and would not face any trial.
President Nausida told reporters, “If Prigozhin or part of the Wagner Group ends up in Belarus without specific plans or intentions, that means we will have to strengthen the security of our eastern border.” He emphasized that this concern extends beyond Lithuania and includes the entire NATO alliance.
Nausida also mentioned that Lithuania would allocate more resources to intelligence services to assess the political and security aspects of Belarus. He reassured that the country is still planning to host the NATO summit next month and that the recent events in Russia do not require any changes to the security measures surrounding the event.
The Lithuanian president believes that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will face greater difficulties following the Wagner rebellion. This rebellion is considered the most serious security crisis in Russia and the biggest challenge Putin has faced since coming to power in 1999.
What are the main points of agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, as shared by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, that aim to resolve the conflict surrounding Yevgeny Prigozhin’s involvement in Belarus
The leader of the Russian private military contractor group known as Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has commented sarcastically on Lithuania’s decision to enhance its border security with Belarus. Prigozhin remarked that even though he has not yet reached Minsk, terror has already begun in European nations.
Prigozhin shared the remarks of the Lithuanian President on his Telegram page, where the President called for bolstering NATO’s eastern flank in response to the arrival of the Wagner Group commander in Belarus. Prigozhin suggested that these actions wouldn’t have been considered if it weren’t for his move to Belarus.
Prigozhin’s current location remains unknown after leaving Rostov on Saturday. The Kremlin’s statement indicated his intended destination as Belarus. It is worth noting that Prigozhin’s armed uprising, led by the founder of Wagner Group, came to an end when he decided to leave Russia after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko mediated the situation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov shared the main points of agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko as part of Minsk’s mediation efforts to resolve the conflict through a settlement.
It seems that Lithuania’s decision to reinforce its border security with Belarus has been noticed by the Russian Wagner Group leader. This development might have implications for the already strained relationship between Lithuania and Russia.