Lukashenko: Prigozhin is not in Belarus.

Self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that neither the mercenaries of the Wagner PMC nor their leader Yevgeny Prigozhin are currently in the country.

Lukashenka said this on July 6 during a meeting with foreign media journalists, as quoted by the Belarusian state agency BELTA.

"As for Yevgeny Prigozhin, he is in St. Petersburg. Where is he this morning...? Maybe he went to Moscow in the morning..." Lukashenka said.

Regarding the Wagnerites and their whereabouts, he said that the militants had not yet arrived in Belarus.

"As far as I am informed this morning, the fighters of the Wagner PMC are in their camps. In the permanent camps where they were after being withdrawn from the front for recuperation," Lukashenka said.

He also made it clear that there is no agreement on the deployment of the Wagner fighters in Belarus yet.

"Whether they will be in Belarus or not, and in what quantity, we will figure it out in the near future. We will not hide this information. We will definitely inform you about our further relations with this unit," Lukashenka assured.

He said that the Wagner forces in Belarus could be used "for the defense of the state" - this is the condition of their deployment.

Author - Olena Madiak, 06/07/2023