The Wagner PMC Command has decided to send all former prisoners, who were mercenaries of the group, back home. "Vazhnye istorii" (Important Stories) studied messages from relatives of the mercenaries and representatives of the company in their private chats, Meduza has reported.
According to the reports, many former mercenaries are currently staying in hotels in Anapa, awaiting pardon.
"All of them were taken to Anapa until the end of the contract, they won't be released earlier, right on schedule! The K project is closed," wrote a representative of the PMC in one of the chats.
Relatives of one of the prisoners wrote that some mercenaries might be released before the end of the contract with the PMC. Another relative stated that the prisoners are expected to be released from the hotels by July 29.
Relatives of four mercenaries confirmed that the former prisoners are staying in hotels in Anapa. One of them mentioned that all prisoners would be released from the hotels to return home, and if they wish, they can renew their contract with the PMC to go to Belarus or Africa, but first, they need to take a vacation at home for 14-45 days.
The former prisoners are reportedly residing in the hotels "Relax," "Kaktus," and "Kalipso" in Vityazevo. The daily rates range from 2,300 to 7,200 rubles depending on the occupancy. According to one of the chats, there are about 400 "Wagnerians" currently staying in the hotels, and they are not allowed to leave the hotel premises until they receive pardons and payments. One relative mentioned that some mercenaries have been in hotels for two months.
In the chats, relatives also complain that the former mercenaries are leading a "dissolute lifestyle" in the hotels. "They walk, drink, party, spend their medals, and pawn their belongings. There are so many of them here [from] the PMC. They bring disgrace to their own company! I personally saw two of them drunk as a skunk at the bus station. Shame!" writes one of the chat participants.
The recruitment of prisoners from Russian colonies to participate in the war in Ukraine became known in the summer of 2022. In exchange, they were promised pardons and financial rewards. Initially, this was handled by the Wagner PMC led by Yevgeny Prigozhin. In February 2023, he announced that the company had stopped recruiting prisoners. It was reported that the recruitment of people for war in colonies began on behalf of the Russian Ministry of Defense.
In mid-June 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed that he signs decrees on pardoning prisoners who agree to go to war in Ukraine.
On June 23, Yevgeny Prigozhin accused the Russian Ministry of Defense of striking the mercenary camp and announced a "march of justice," during which he and his fighters planned to march to Moscow. By the next morning, the PMC had taken control of Rostov-on-Don and reached the Lipetsk region. On the evening of June 24, Prigozhin announced that the mercenaries were "retreating to field camps according to the plan." The press secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the founder of the PMC would "go" to Belarus. The mercenaries were offered to go with him or sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
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