Charges against Wagner chief will be dropped, Kremlin says

[underpants]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/24/russia-ukraine-war-news-wagner-prigozhin/

Criminal charges previously started against Prigozhin will be dropped, and the Wagner boss will go to Belarus, said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. The guarantee that Prigozhin will be able to go to Belarus is based on Putin’s word, according to Peskov. Pro-Kremlin media also reported that 15 Russian servicemen were killed in clashes with Wagner forces, though no official figures on casualties have been released. The Washington Post could not independently verify the casualties.

[getagrip_already]

1. Hmm, is he now the leader of belarus?

That might make some twisted sense......

[Blaukraut]

4. So Lukashenko brokers the deal and gets to hand Prig his job?

That would be the ultimate knife in the back. Couldn't happen to a more deserving guy

[getagrip_already]

8. Putin already said power in Belarus should change by the end of the year

It could be a graceful, non-window exit for lukeshanko. Putin already poisoned him once. He may want a quiet life in turkey.

Putin would be very happy with a ruthless strongman in place.

Prizzie gets a kingdom and can still harass ukraine.

Actually makes some twisted sense from their viewpoint.

[Hortensis]

2. So, looks like the (main?) goal was to get Putin/military to agree not to

assassinate Prigozhin, who'd made way too many enemies in a country with a long record of assassinating military leaders who offended, during the Ukrainian war alone. And many others, of course.

This is from an Al Jazeera article a few days ago on speculation about Prigozhin's intentions. The question of whether this monster criminal wanted to enter politics appears to be answered, though for this guy...who knows?

However, Prigozhin is more likely to end up like several separatist leaders in southwestern Ukraine who died under suspicious circumstances after falling out with their Kremlin curators, he said.

“Historic logic is harsh and practically doesn’t leave [Prigozhin] a chance to survive,” Bizyukin said.

Another analyst agrees – given that Prigozhin made enemies among Russia’s top brass and refused to force Wagner mercenaries to sign contracts with the defence ministry.

He has two options, says Nikolay Mitrokhin of Germany’s Bremen University.

The first one is “to shut up and to obey [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s decision to fuse all the rampant Cossack, anarchic liberty of Wagner within the framework of the usual state structures,” he told Al Jazeera.

Option two is to “burn to death after a shot from the Shmel [flamethrower] in the side of his car, something that will be later ascribed to Ukrainian diversion groups,” he said.

Prigozhin has crossed too many red lines, and one more may prove lethal. ...

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2023/6/19/can-wagners-founder-break-out-as-a-politician

[SallyHemmings]

3. "Is based on Putin's word".....

I would trust his word as much as tfg’s…

[Mr.Bill]

5. I think this whole operation, from the start

has been nothing but theater authored by Putin and carried out by Prigozhin to give Putin a Ukraine exit opportunity without taking any blame. Time will tell.

[underpants]

6. Prigozhin is Bernie Kerik type

He came out of nowhere (good for him) and was bound to crash.

[prodigitalson]

12. good analogy

[malaise]

14. With the prison record

😀

[Chainfire]

7. To Belarus where he will die suddenly from an unknown disease.

It will be simpler for Prigozhin's underlings, they will just be murdered in place. I feel a purge a comin on.

[TheBlackAdder]

9. Hey Prigozhin, while you're at it, I have a nice bridge in Brooklyn I'd like to sell you.

[Johonny]

10. On there head, along with the 1 ton safe they're in, the Kremlin added.

[malaise]

11. From the window

with him😀

[allegorical oracle]

13. Darn! You read my mind. nt

[prodigitalson]

15. what's the over/under on his time of death?

[Emile]

17. Best to hire a food and wine taster.