Louis Portal (in Moscow) with AFP / Photo credit: MIKHAIL METZEL / SPUTNIK / AFP
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1:29 p.m., June 25, 2023
In the aftermath of the armed rebellion of the Wagner group in Russia, the hour is with the relief, but also with the concern for the Muscovites. If the forces of the paramilitary group have started to leave certain Russian regions, a question remains: how will the Russian power communicate around this crisis?
The forces of the paramilitary group Wagner are gradually withdrawing to Russia on Sunday after the abortive coup by their leader Evguéni Prigojine, under an agreement with Vladimir Putin who is emerging weakened from this unprecedented crisis. Now is the time for relief.
During a 24-hour escapade that took his militias less than 400 kilometers from Moscow, or even 200 according to him, Yevgeny Prigojine frontally challenged the authority of the Russian president before turning around and ordering his men to return to their bases, after mediation by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, the Kremlin’s only European ally.
An unexpected rebellion for Muscovites
The urgency of the crisis seems to have passed, in the Russian capital as in its region. The “anti-terrorist operation regime” established the day before and which gives increased powers to the police is about to be lifted. The Muscovites, who spent the day on Saturday wondering if the army and Wagner’s men were going to clash and if it would happen in the capital, are now relieved even if, overhanging, the concern remains.
No one expected such a move from Evguéni Prigojine and it took several days for things to settle down. A question arises: how will the Russian authorities communicate around this crisis? Vladimir Putin has already begun to praise the role of Alexander Lukashenko and announced the dropping of charges against Wagner’s mercenaries.
Putin’s priority remains the war in Ukraine
Will the head of the Kremlin be able to provide credible answers to the criticisms formulated by the head of the Wagner group? He will have to give the impression of being a listening president, even in the event of a crisis. Vladimir Putin is a pragmatic man and knows how to deal with his environment, as he has done for 20 years.
This episode proves it once again, Vladimir Putin’s priority remains the war in Ukraine. And even during this armed rebellion, he knew how to compose to stay the course and try to achieve his objectives.