Alexander Lukashenko said that during the rebellion, PMC Wagner persuaded Vladimir Putin to refrain from harsh measures and negotiate. According to him, Putin called him on the morning of June 24 to tell him about the current situation.
“I realized: a cruel decision was made – to wet. I suggested to Putin not to hurry. Come on, I say, let's talk with Prigogine, with his commanders. To which he told me: “Listen, Sasha, it’s useless. He doesn’t even pick up the phone, he doesn’t want to talk to anyone,” BelTA quotes Lukashenka as saying.
According to Lukashenka, after that he tried to contact Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was at that moment in Rostov-on-Don. Russian Deputy Defense Minister General Yunus-Bek Yevkurov and FSB Director Alexander Bortnikov participated in organizing the talks.
“At 11.00 he [Prigozhin] instantly picked up the phone. That is, Yevkurov called him, gave him the phone: “Here, the President of Belarus is calling, will you talk?” – "I will be with Alexander Grigorievich." I hear their conversation. Picked up the phone. The conversation is euphoria. Eugene is in complete euphoria. We talked for the first round of 30 minutes in a swear language. Exclusively. There were 10 times more swear words (I later analyzed them) than normal vocabulary. He, of course, apologized and began to tell me with obscene words.
According to Lukashenka, Prigozhin was pressured by the commanders of the PMC Wagner, "the guys are very offended."
“He <Prigozhin> is such a, you know, heroic guy, but he was pressured and influenced by those who led the assault squads and saw these deaths. And in this situation, having jumped out from there to Rostov, in such a half-mad state, I am conducting this dialogue with him.
According to Lukashenka, after persuasion, he threatened Prigozhin that if he did not back down, the Belarusian army would defend Moscow.
“I say: “Zhenya, no one will give you either Shoigu or Gerasimov, especially in this situation. You know Putin as much as I do. Secondly, he will not only meet with you – he will not talk on the phone due to this situation. Silent. “But we want justice! They want to strangle us! We will go to Moscow!” I say: “Halfway you just like a bug crushed. Despite the fact that the troops (Putin told me about this for a long time) are diverted on the corresponding front.” Think about it, I say. <…>
It took me a long time to convince him. And in the end he said: “You know, you can do whatever you want. But don't be offended by me. The brigade is ready to be transferred to Moscow.”
Lukashenka cited competition between the army and PMCs as the reason for the rebellion: "an interpersonal conflict between famous people has escalated into this fight."
“We spanked this situation. We missed her. And then, when it began to develop, we saw and thought that it would resolve itself, both I and Putin. But I'm less so, to be honest. And it didn't dissolve. And almost two people who fought at the front collided. I, again, in this topic, in this boiler was constantly. I know the work of <Sergei> Shoigu. He gets criticized unfairly."
Lukashenka told all these details, speaking to the Belarusian officers after the planned epaulette ceremony at the Palace of Independence. “Yesterday morning I decided that it was time to say something on this topic (naturally, not everything), moreover, honestly, openly, without hiding anything,” Lukashenka said. He also admitted that he asked his press secretary to call the leadership of the major Belarusian media and warn them "not to trample on this topic <mutiny in Russia>."
“But in Russia, as always, jingoistic patriots appeared, I saw this trend, who began to howl and shout, condemn Putin, demand that he not stop criminal cases, catch, wet, plant. This is what I would like to warn both us and Russian society against. When unfolding, as President Putin called it, this turmoil in Russia, somehow everyone was sitting under a broom. Matvienko turned out to be courageous, Volodin, the Patriarch, a couple of people – that's all. And after a fight, we know how to wave our hands, oh, how we can, and advise: "Wet, wet and wet." Listen, well, there is someone to kill, especially you know where. There is someone to plant where it is needed.