Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has claimed that he warned Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin about the consequences he would face after his mutiny against the Russian military. Lukashenko stated that he told Prigozhin that his actions would lead to the destruction of his people and his own demise. Prigozhin’s response to this warning has been reported in various ways, including “To hell with it – I will die,” “I will die then, damn it!” and “To hell with it, let me be killed!” Lukashenko further mentioned that he offered Prigozhin a rope and a piece of soap, which is apparently a Russian idiom referring to preparing a noose for hanging. However, Prigozhin declined the offer and claimed he would die a hero.
Regarding Prigozhin’s visit to Belarus, Lukashenko revealed that he warned both Prigozhin and Dmitry Utkin, another Wagner leader, to be cautious. However, it is unclear when this conversation took place. Prigozhin had agreed to leave Russia for Belarus following his mutiny, but he continued to move around in Russia even after agreeing to live in exile. It was during this time that his plane crashed, leading to his apparent demise. The Pentagon has stated that it is likely Prigozhin was killed, but the circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. Lukashenko also mentioned that Prigozhin did not ask for increased security during his time in Belarus or for a return to Russia.
Lukashenko offered these anecdotes to explain why he was unable to fulfill his security promises to Prigozhin and stated that it is unfair to expect him to ensure Prigozhin’s safety in Africa or while he was in Russia. He emphasized that he never had a conversation about ensuring security in someone else’s territory. Rebekah Koffler, president of Doctrine & Strategy Consulting and a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer, believes that Lukashenko is attempting to protect himself from criticism by “whitewashing” his conversations. She argues that there was no deal that Lukashenko could make to ensure Prigozhin’s safety or go against Putin.
In conclusion, Lukashenko’s claims about his conversations with Prigozhin shed light on the events leading to Prigozhin’s apparent demise and the lack of security measures taken during his time in Belarus and Russia. However, the details surrounding Prigozhin’s death remain uncertain.
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