Moscow ends anti-terror regime after Wagner riots – DW – 06/26/2023

The mayor of Moscow, Sergiy Sobyanin, announced this Monday (06.26.2023) the end of the “reign of terrorist activity” established on Saturday, June 24, after the uprising in the capital and its entire region. Wagner mercenary groupIt threatened to attack the center of power in Russia if it did not meet a series of conditions imposed by its leader. Evgeny Prigogine.

“We have removed all restrictions related to the implementation of the anti-terrorist operation regime,” Sobyanin announced in a telegram. Sobyanin thanked Muscovites for their “peace and understanding” in the same message. Russian press reports Central Security Service (FSB, ex-KGB) stepped up the operation, which also prevailed in Voronezh.

Meanwhile, the National Anti-Terrorism Committee (NAK) explained that the situation in Moscow was “stable” and that “the decision was taken as there was no threat to people’s lives, health or property”. Warrantless interference with citizens’ communications by telephone and Internet, and use of their means of transportation.

Unpublished date

During the day on Saturday, the Russian capital saw armored cars, soldiers, cordon off Red Square, quickly set up military checkpoints with sandbags and distributed trucks in strategic areas to prevent tanks from passing through. In other areas trenches were dug or roads destroyed to block the advance of Wagner’s column.

The crisis was an unexpected solution when he was the leader of the mercenary force decided to halt the advance of his forces, which was already about 200 kilometers from the capital. Prigozhin reached an agreement with central authorities that dropped charges against him for his rebellion and pardoned the militants who had supported him in the uprising.

DZC (AFP, Reuters, EFE)