Wagner Private Military Company Does Not Exist: Putin

"Wagner private military company does not exist," said Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russian Kommersant special correspondent Andrey Kolesnikov revealed details from a June 29 meeting at the Kremlin with commanders from the Wagner private military company. The meeting lasted three hours.

It is worth noting that this conversation took place five days after the failed military rebellion in Russia.

Putin provided Kolesnikov with certain details about the events. "Tell me, what actually happened?" the journalist inquired. "What really happened is very simple and clear for the Russian public: the ordinary fighters of Wagner fought with dignity; therefore... It is regrettable that they got involved in these events... I will express this very cautiously," said Putin.

The journalist noted in his report that the Russian president really wanted to meet with the Wagner fighters, rather than with Yevgeny Prigozhin. "On the one hand, at the meeting, I assessed what they did on the battlefield; on the other hand, what they did during the events of June 24. Thirdly, I presented possible options for their future transition, including combat use. That’s all," Putin stated.

The meeting lasted three hours.

"Can we assume that the 'Wagner' entity will remain as a combat unit?" the journalist asked. "Well, the Wagner private military company does not exist," Putin exclaimed, adding, "We do not have laws on private military organizations. It simply does not exist. That is, if there is no law, then there is no private military company."

"Then what was it?" the journalist queried.

"There is no such legal entity," Putin clarified. "There is a group, but it does not exist legally. This is a separate issue related to legalization. But this is a question that should be discussed in the State Duma, in the government. It is a difficult question," the Russian president noted.