Lukashenko stated that he was not obliged to ensure Prigozhin’s safety

The authoritarian leader of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, spoke for the first time about the alleged death of the head of PMC “Wagner” Evgeny Prigozhin. He stated that he did not give Prigozhin guarantees of his safety outside the territory of Belarus. He also said that he warned Prigozhin that after the “Wagner” rebellion in June 2023, his life would be in danger.

Lukashenko also said that he does not believe that President of Russia Vladimir Putin may have been involved in the crash of Prigozhin’s plane. “I know Putin. He is a calculating, very calm and even slow person, making decisions on other, less complex issues. Therefore, I cannot imagine that Putin did this, that Putin is to blame. Too rude, unprofessional work,” Lukashenko said.

In response to journalists’ questions about the future fate of the PMC “Wagner” mercenaries in Belarus, Lukashenko said that the “core” of the PMC – about 10 thousand people – will remain in the country. “As much as we and this unit need, they will live and work with us,” he said.

The news is updated