Russian officials reminded this Wednesday no Russian citizen can be extradited to another countrythus eliminating the possibility that the leader of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, could be sent to the United States to be held responsible for the crimes against which he is accused.
When questioned about the possibility of Prigozhin, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Maria Zakharova said, “Every Russian citizen (…) has the right to rely on the help of Russia to protect himself in unlawful attempts to bring him to criminal liability abroad.” It is being returned to the USA.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller acknowledged this the previous day. Washington wants Wagner Group leader to face “crimes for which he was charged” in US courts both in Ukraine and in Africa, where the organization is located.
Wagner Group, led by Prigozhin, launched a mutiny late Friday, capturing the Russian city of Rostov, the headquarters of the Army’s southern command, in order to travel to Moscow to seek clarification from the Defense Ministry. He kills his men in a bombing.
In full conflict with the Kremlin and several hundred kilometers from Moscow, the convoy returned on Saturday afternoon, thanks to the mediation of Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, with an agreement to stop the rebellion, pardon the mercenaries and send the exile to Belarus. to Prigozhin.
Asked about this issue, Zajarova emphasized that: Russia, with Prigozhin and his mercenaries, will resolve the situation “without comment from the outside”. Those who wanted to express, those who wanted to help helped. We will remember all these, we will note them and we will not forget.”