Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner PMC, has acknowledged recruiting ex-convicts for the recent mutiny in Rostov-on-Don, Reuters reports.
In a statement, he said, "Try to remember very well that there is no need to return to a (penitentiary) camp. You do not need to be convicted and imprisoned to return to war."
Reuters investigation confirms that at least three Wagner fighters involved in the mutiny had prior criminal convictions. Prigozhin's decision to recruit ex-convicts from prisons across Russia has backfired, exposing the risks involved.
Surviving convict fighters are loyal to Prigozhin, with some considering him responsible for giving them a second chance. However, the mutiny raises questions about their future actions as President Putin seeks to resolve the crisis.
The ex-convict fighters have been given options to join Prigozhin in Belarus, enlist in the regular military, or return to civilian life, as Prigozhin states, "Those who wish to come back, we will wait for you."
The involvement of convicted criminals in the mutiny highlights the need for stricter recruitment policies within private military companies to ensure professionalism and integrity.
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