Russia’s FSB Closes Investigation Into Prigozhin Mutiny

Moscow dropped criminal charges against Prigozhin and Wagner fighters who participated as part of a deal to stop the uprising

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announced Tuesday that it closed the investigation of the short-lived uprising launched by some members of the Wagner Group and its now-exiled leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

As part of a deal to end the crisis, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to drop charges against Prigozhin and those who joined the mutiny. The FSB said that it closed the investigation because the participants “ceased their actions directly aimed at committing the crime.”

“Taking into account this and other circumstances relevant to the investigation, the investigative authority issued a resolution to terminate the criminal case on June 27,” the FSB said, according to the Russian news agency TASS.

Also on Tuesday, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Wagner Group will hand over its heavy equipment. “Preparations are underway for the transfer of heavy military equipment from the Wagner PMC to the active units of the Russian military,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

In a speech on Monday night, Putin vowed to uphold the deal he made to end the mutiny. Wagner fighters have the options of signing a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry, leaving for Belarus, or returning home to their families. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that Prigozhin had arrived in Belarus.

Author: Dave DeCamp

Dave DeCamp is the news editor of Antiwar.com, follow him on Twitter @decampdave.