Putin: Wagner Does Not Exist

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated in an interview published late Thursday that he offered fighters from the Russian private military group Wagner the opportunity to continue serving within the regular Russian army. Putin mentioned in an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant that he made the offer during a meeting with the fighters and the group's founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, at the end of last month, five days after Wagner's failed rebellion against the senior leadership of the Russian army. The Russian president emphasized that "Wagner does not exist... there is no specific law for private military organizations," and that it is up to the Russian parliament and government to discuss the legal framework for private military groups. The rebellion ended with Moscow granting Prigozhin and Wagner fighters the opportunity to settle in neighboring Belarus.