Belarus President Lukashenko Claims Wagner Group Leader Prigozhin is in Russia

• The Kremlin states it does not monitor Prigozhin’s movements.
• Lukashenko’s claim about Prigozhin’s current location cannot be independently verified.
• Lukashenko offers Soviet-era military sites for Wagner’s use.

According to Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the Wagner Group boss who was involved in a recent rebellion in Russia, is currently in Russia and not in Belarus. Prigozhin’s location had been unknown since the mutiny.

Initially, as part of a resolution to the conflict, charges against him were dismissed, and he was offered relocation to Belarus. However, Lukashenko stated on Thursday that Prigozhin is in St Petersburg and not within the territory of Belarus.

The Kremlin stated that it does not monitor Yevgeny Prigozhin’s movements in response to Alexander Lukashenko’s remarks about Prigozhin’s location.

Lukashenko, who played a role in negotiating the resolution to the mutiny, had previously announced that Prigozhin had arrived in Belarus just over a week ago.

The BBC had tracked Prigozhin’s private jet flying to Belarus and returning to Russia on the same day in late June. Subsequently, the aircraft has made multiple trips between St Petersburg and Moscow, although it remains unclear if Prigozhin was onboard. The BBC cannot independently verify Lukashenko’s claim regarding the current whereabouts of the Wagner Group leader.

Lukashenko further mentioned that, to his knowledge, the remaining Wagner fighters are still stationed at their bases, which may include locations in eastern Ukraine or a training facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region.

Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko reiterated that the offer to allow Wagner Group to station some of its fighters in Belarus remains on the table. This proposal has raised concerns among neighboring NATO countries. Lukashenko has also expressed readiness to provide several Soviet-era military sites for their utilization.

“But Wagner have a different vision,” he said, adding: “Of course I won’t tell you about that.”

“At present, the issue of their relocation has not been resolved.”