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Wagner boss Prigozhin is in Russia, Belarus ruler Lukashenko says

06 July 2023 13:02 (UTC +04:00)

The head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin - who led a short-lived armed rebellion in Russia last month - is in Russia, longtime Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko says, APA reports citing BBC.

Prigozhin's whereabouts have been a mystery since he was seen in southern Russia during the mutiny.

Under a deal to end the stand-off, charges against Prigozhin were dropped and he was to be allowed to move to Belarus.

Mr Lukashenko helped broker the deal.

Just over a week ago Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994 and is widely thought to have rigged 2020 elections to maintain power, said Prigozhin had arrived in Belarus.

The Wagner leader's private jet had been tracked flying into Minsk on 27 June - although it was not clear if Mr Prigozhin was on board.

But, on Thursday Mr Lukashenko told reporters: "As for Prigozhin, he's in St Petersburg. He is not on the territory of Belarus."

The Wagner Group is a private army of mercenaries that has been fighting alongside the regular Russian army in Ukraine.