The FSB called on Wagner mercenaries to detain Prigozhin, RBC reports .
“We call on PMC fighters not to make an irreparable mistake, to stop any forceful actions against the Russian people, not to carry out Prigozhin’s criminal and treacherous orders, and to take measures to detain him,” the FSB said in a statement.
Earlier, the Investigation Department of the FSB of Russia opened a criminal case against Prigozhin under Article 279 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation – on the fact of "organizing an armed rebellion."
This crime is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 12 to 20 years.
On the evening of June 23, Prigozhin said that the Russian Defense Ministry launched rocket attacks on the rear camps of Wagner PMCs. He claims that Shoigu specially arrived in Rostov-on-Don to carry out an operation to destroy the "Wagnerites". According to him, the head of the Defense Ministry blindly used gunners and helicopter pilots for this. Prigozhin promised to respond to the blow and "deal with those who destroy Russian soldiers." The Russian Defense Ministry denies strikes on the positions of PMC mercenaries, arguing that the messages spread by Prigozhin are not true.
The FSB and other security officials in Moscow were alerted, according to a source close to the special services of the BBC Russian Service. On the Don highway (Moscow-Voronezh-Rostov-on-Don road), the FSB and SOBR of the National Guard set up roadblocks. The officers on duty were ordered to open fire "in the event of a threat." In a number of police departments of the Rostov region, the “Fortress” plan was announced, the employees were alerted, the Baza Telegram channel and a source of the Rostov publication 161.RU in law enforcement agencies reported .
