Secret talks revealed: Lukashenko & Prigozhin's bold moves
A recording has surfaced online, allegedly capturing negotiations between Alexander Lukashenko and Yevgeny Prigozhin during the Wagner group rebellion in June 2023. The authenticity of the recording hasn't been confirmed, but the speaking style and tone suggest it might be authentic.
Many of the reports by Russian and Belarusian media or government officials are elements of propaganda. Such reports are part of the information war waged by the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus.
The conversation transcript was published by reform.news. In the discussion, Lukashenko assures Prigozhin that he will discuss the rebellion with Vladimir Putin. He states, "I haven't talked to him yet. But our press service released information that we spoke with the president this morning and agreed that we will do everything to resolve the conflict peacefully. And I suggested that we talk to Yevgeny Prigozhin and try to reach an agreement, and so on," says the Belarusian leader.
Lukashenko reveals to his interlocutor that Putin is considering the possibility of taking Prigozhin's life and assures him that he will try to dissuade the Russian president from this idea. Prigozhin scoffed at the notion, calling it too risky and an obvious solution.
Prigozhin on Poles: Let them pay
Lukashenko encouraged Prigozhin to act according to their earlier plan. He also assured that ready military bases are waiting for the Wagner group in Belarus.
"Let the Poles pay for peace," states Yevgeny Prigozhin at one point, to which Lukashenko bursts into laughter. "Maybe so," summarizes the Belarusian leader.
According to political scientist Anna Maria Dyner, this confirms Lukashenko's later words that he stopped the Wagner group from "a trip to Warsaw and Rzeszów." "They ask for permission to go West: 'Let us!' And I say: 'Why do you need to go there to the West?'" he recounted. The answer was that they want to go "on a trip to Warsaw and Rzeszów." "And, of course, I keep them, as we agreed, in central Belarus; I wouldn't want to redeploy them again because they are in a bad mood," threatened the Belarusian leader during a meeting with Vladimir Putin in July 2023.
