Process against Wagner Group leader remains open, contrary to agreement with Belarus, says Russian media

A Russian criminal case against mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin for mutiny remains open and is still being investigated, Kommersant newspaper and Russia’s three main news agencies reported on Monday (26), citing unnamed sources.

President Vladimir Putin vowed on Saturday to “crush” what he called a traitorous riot after Prigozhin said his Wagner Group fighters had taken control of the southern city of Rostov and were heading for Moscow.

The mercenary leader said it was a “march for justice” aimed at removing corrupt and incompetent Russian commanders.

Under a deal brokered by Belarusian leader Alexandr Lukashenko that defused the crisis on Saturday night, the Kremlin said criminal proceedings against Prigozhin would be dropped and he would move to Belarus. Fighters from it would return to base and also face no legal action, the Kremlin said.

However, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported on Monday that the criminal case remained open and that the Federal Security Service (FSB) was continuing its investigation as part of the case.

He cited an unnamed source as saying there was not enough time to close the case.

Russia’s three main news agencies – TASS, RIA and Interfax – also reported that the criminal case against Prigozhin remained open and that the investigation was continuing.

“The criminal case against Prigozhin has not stopped,” TASS said, citing a source close to the prosecutor’s office. “The investigation is ongoing.”

The prison sentence under Russian law for such a crime is 12 to 20 years.

Prigozhin, who has not been seen in public since leaving Rostov on Saturday night and has not commented on the deal, has denied leading a riot.

Prigozhin, once a close ally of Putin whose Wagner Group led much of the fighting in Ukraine, launched his rebellion on Friday after claiming the Russian military killed some of his men in an airstrike. The Ministry of Defense denied his allegation.