🇷🇺 President Putin says ☠ Wagner PMC mutiny is ‘treason’:
Russian President Vladimir Putin says an “armed mutiny” by the Wagner Group mercenary force was treason, and that anyone who had taken up arms against the Russian military would be punished.
Speaking during an emergency televised addressed, Putin said he would do everything to protect Russia, and that “decisive action” would be taken to stabilise the situation in Rostov-on-Don, a southern city where Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said his forces had taken control of all military installations.
Russian President Vladimir Putin appealed to Wagner forces in an address Saturday.
“I appeal to those pushed into the provocation of a military rebellion,” he said.
Putin added that at this time, “we require unity, consolidation, and responsibility.”
“Those who carry deliberately on a path of treason, preparing an armed rebellion when you were preparing terrorist attacks, will be punished,” Putin said.
The Russian President said, “any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood for us as a nation; it is a blow to Russia for our people and our actions to protect our homeland. Such a threat will face a severe response.”
Moscow declares counterterrorism state of emergency:
The authorities in Moscow and the surrounding area say they have declared a counterterrorism state of emergency
against the background of the armed uprising by Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin.
“In order to prevent possible terrorist attacks in the city and Moscow region, a regime of counterterrorism operations has been established,” Russia’s National Antiterrorism Committee said.
Security has been tightened in Moscow. The Voronezh region in southwestern Russia, which borders Ukraine, also declared this type of state of emergency.
The counterterrorism state of emergency allows the Russian authorities to increase controls and facilitate the arrest of
citizens. Telephone calls can also be tapped more frequently.
Source: Al Jazeera.