By Ricardo Lezama 
Questions and Answers:
Summary: – President Vladimir Putin condemned the leaders of the Wagner mercenary group as traitors to Russia in a late-night speech to the nation. Putin also held a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and other officials following his speech. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner, said the march on Moscow was a protest to bring to account those responsible for mistakes in Russia’s war in Ukraine.
– Prigozhin said the goal was not to overthrow the existing regime.
– Belarus leader, Alexander Lukashenko, negotiated with Prigozhin to end the revolt in return for Putin allowing him to travel to Belarus and dropping criminal charges against Wagner fighters.
Q: What was the goal of the march on Moscow according to Prigozhin? A: Prigozhin said the march on Moscow was a protest to bring to account those responsible for mistakes in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Lukashenko negotiated with Prigozhin to end the revolt in return for Putin allowing him to travel to Belarus and dropping criminal charges against Wagner fighters. The main target of Prigozhin’s attacks was Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Putin promised Wagner fighters that they could join the regular military, go home, or relocate to Belarus.
Q: Who is Yevgeny Prigozhin?
A: Yevgeny Prigozhin is the leader of a group of mercenaries called Wagner Group and he was trying to march his forces to Moscow in order to force Russian Defence officials into retirement, retreat while also maintaining cordial relations with the country’s leader Vladimir Putin.
Q: What is the Wagner Group?
A: The Wagner Group is a private military apparatus that has traditionally served the interests of the Russian Vladimir Putin. Putin condemned the leaders of the Wagner mercenary group as traitors to Russia.
Q: Who is Vladimir Putin?
A: Vladimir Putin is the current president of Russia. Vladimir Putin was born on October 7th, 1952 in Leningrad, Russia (now St. Petersburg). He is the youngest of three children born to Vladimir Spiridonovich Putin and Maria Ivanovna Putina. Putin’s father was a conscript in the Soviet Navy, and his mother was a factory worker. Putin attended the Saint Petersburg State University, where he studied law, graduating in 1975. He then joined the KGB and served as an officer in East Germany from 1985 to 1990. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Putin returned to Saint Petersburg and served as an advisor to the mayor from 1991 to 1996. In 1996, President Boris Yeltsin appointed Putin as the head of the Federal Security Service. In 1998, Putin was appointed the first deputy prime minister and in August of 1999, he was appointed prime minister. In 2000, Putin was elected president of Russia and in 2004 he was reelected for a second term. In 2008, he was again elected president and in 2012 he was reelected for a third term. In 2018, Putin was reelected for a fourth term as president, making him the longest-serving leader of Russia since Joseph Stalin. During his time in office, Putin has been credited with restoring Russia’s economy and increasing its international influence. He has also been criticized for his authoritarian style of leadership and for his involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.
Q: What is the Kremlin?
A: The Kremlin is the official residence of the Russian president. It’s also a term used to reference the Russian ruling class.
Q: What is the purpose of the Wagner Group?
A: The purpose of the Wagner Group is to serve the interests of the Russian Vladimir Putin.
Q: What did Putin do to address the Russian public?
A: Putin addressed the Russian public by releasing an arrest warrant on Prigozhin and the Wagner Group, and calling for the group to stand down.
Q: What is the relationship between Prigozhin and Putin?
A: Prigozhin and Putin have a history of being allies, meeting in their early days as powerbrokers in St. Petersburg.
Q: What did Belarusian president Aleksander Lukashenko do to prevent a showdown?
A: Belarusian president Aleksander Lukashenko negotiated with Prigozhin and the arrest warrant made on Prigozhin was dropped.
Q: What was Prigozhin’s goal?
A: Prigozhin’s goal was to march his forces to Moscow.
Q: What did Putin do to act against Prigozhin?
A: Putin released an arrest warrant on Prigozhin and the Wagner Group, and called for the group to stand down. Ultimately, as stated above, the president of Belarus negotiated an arrangement between the Russian government and the Wagner group.