The leader of Russia’s 24-hour mutiny, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has arrived in Belarus, three days after his Wagner mercenary group’s mutiny came to an end 200km (125 miles) south of Moscow.
“Yes, indeed, he’s in Belarus today,” leader Alexander Lukashenko announced, claiming credit in arranging his exile.
Mr Prigozhin’s whereabouts had been a mystery since he was filmed driving off in southern Russia on Saturday night.
His private jet was tracked flying into the Belarus capital Minsk on Tuesday.
Mr Lukashenko said Wagner mercenaries had been offered an abandoned military base if they wanted to join their leader: “There is a fence, everything is available, erect your tents.”
Under the deal that brought an end to the mutiny, Mr Prigozhin has been promised security and the Russian criminal case against Wagner has been dropped.
Moscow is preparing to transfer the mercenaries’ heavy weapons into the regular military and the fighters have been told they can either sign regular army contracts, go home or head to Belarus.
Nato members Poland, Latvia and Lithuania have warned that Wagner’s arrival in Belarus could spell trouble for them as neighbours.
A Lithuanian presidential adviser said the mercenaries were dangerous as they could take part in sabotage and infiltration operations.
Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told a press conference that if Wagner were to deploy its “serial killers” in Belarus, then neighbouring countries would face “even greater danger of instability”.
Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance was ready to defend itself against any threat from “Moscow or Minsk” and would agree to strengthen its defences at a meeting in Lithuania next week – focusing particularly on nations bordering Belarus.
“We have sent a clear message to Moscow and to Minsk that Nato is there to protect every ally and every inch of Nato territory,” he said.
Russia moved tactical nuclear weapons into Belarus in recent weeks, with President Putin saying they would only be used if Russian territory was threatened. (BBC)