Wagner boss Prigozhin is in Belarus, confirms country’s president

The Russian defence ministry said preparations are under way for Wagner to hand over its heavy weapons to the Russian military

Yevgeny Prigozhin is in Belarus, the country’s president has said (AP Photo)

Yevgeny Prigozhin, owner of the private army of inmate recruits and other mercenaries that has fought some of the deadliest battles in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, is in Belarus after his abortive armed rebellion against the Kremlin, Belarus’s president said on Tuesday.

The exile to Belarus of the 62-year-old owner of the Wagner Group was part of the deal that ended the short-lived mutiny in Russia. He and some of his troops would be welcome to stay “for some time” at their own expense, President Alexander Lukashenko said.