Minsk - Alexander Lukashenko, the leader of Belarus, recently engaged in a lengthy conversation with a small group of journalists at the Palace of Independence in Minsk. Amidst speculations about his health, Lukashenko's endurance was evident as he discussed the Wagner mutiny and other pressing issues. However, rather than shedding light on the situation, Lukashenko's statements further muddled the waters.
Regarding the alleged deal brokered by Lukashenko to end the Wagner mutiny, he revealed that the relocation of Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and his fighters to Belarus had not yet occurred.
Lukashenko disclosed, "As of this morning, the Wagner fighters, very serious ones, are still in the camps they'd withdrawn to after Bakhmut." Furthermore, he stated that Prigozhin's current whereabouts were unknown, suggesting he was in St Petersburg, Moscow, or elsewhere but not in Belarus.
When asked whether this indicated that the deal had fallen through, Lukashenko denied it, implying that undisclosed conversations might be taking place behind the scenes. The lack of clarity surrounding the situation only fueled speculation about hidden negotiations and conflicting interests between the Wagner Group, the Kremlin, and Lukashenko's government.
"I think that no-one came out of that situation a hero," said Lukashenko.
"Not Prigozhin, not Putin, not Lukashenko. There were no heroes. And the lesson from this? If we create armed groups like this, we need to keep an eye on them and pay serious attention to them."
In the discussion, Lukashenko also addressed the issue of nuclear weapons, particularly Russia's reported relocation of warheads to Belarus.
He responded to concerns by stating, "God forbid I should ever have to take the decision to use them… But I won't hesitate to use them."
However, when reminded that these were Russian weapons and not under his jurisdiction, Lukashenko drew comparisons to leaders like Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin, highlighting the existence of foreign weapons being used in conflicts.
The conversation then shifted towards the topic of political prisoners, with Lukashenko denying knowledge of the denial of access to jailed opposition activist Maria Kolesnikova by her relatives and lawyers. When confronted with the increasing number of political prisoners in Belarus, Lukashenko argued that since there was no specific article for political crimes in their criminal code, prisoners could not be classified as political prisoners.
These remarks by Lukashenko underscore his controversial status, as the US, EU, and UK do not recognize him as the legitimate president of Belarus. Following the disputed 2020 election, Belarusians took to the streets in protest against Lukashenko's alleged electoral theft, resulting in a brutal crackdown on demonstrators.
As Lukashenko's statements failed to clarify the situation surrounding the Wagner mutiny resolution and raised concerns about political prisoners, journalists and observers are left grappling with more questions than answers. The lack of transparency and Lukashenko's dismissive responses regarding these crucial matters underscore the ongoing challenges faced by Belarus and its citizens in seeking clarity and justice.