Russian FSB's Criminal Case Against Wagner Leader Still Open Despite Agreement Being Reached

Russian media reported Prigozhin announced operations after Russian missile strikes allegedly hit the rear camps of the Wagner mercenary group and caused the deaths of "a huge number of fighters".

MOSCOW - The Russian Prosecutor General's Office said on Saturday that on June 23rd investigators from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case against the head of the Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin under Article 279. Prigozhin hasn’t been seen since he left Rostov-on-Don on June 24th.

Putin: Attempted Armed Rebellion By Head Of The Wagner Mercenary Group

Russian media reports, however, that agreements were reached that would release the Wagner founder from prosecution on certain conditions.

Image: Government of the Russian Federation, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Article 279 is a Russian Criminal Code addressing the organization of an armed mutiny, a criminal case that the Prosecutor’s office says is still ongoing despite the fact that the mutiny attempt was stopped. The charges could lead to 12 to 20 years in prison, if convicted of the crime, according to TASS.

Russian state news agency TASS cited a source within the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office as saying, “The criminal case against Prigozhin has not been closed. The investigation is continuing,” which was also reported by the Russian newspaper Kommersant.

Although he said he was going to Belarus, his current location is unknown. US think tank Institute for Warfare (ISW) reported, “Prigozhin's whereabouts have not been confirmed since he left Rostov-on-Don on the 24th”.

What Happened With The Rebellion?