Video: Recordings of Lukashenko and Prigozhin's Phone Conversation Surface Online

A recording has surfaced online, purportedly of a conversation between Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner private military company, during the insurrection that took place in June 2023. The authenticity of the recording has not been verified.

The conversation includes three participants: Lukashenko's press secretary, who answers the call at the start of the conversation, and two men engaged in a discussion about the plans to end the insurrection.

Excerpt from the recording:

Speaker 1: Hello, Zhenya, I haven't spoken to him yet. His entire entourage is still tense. They are already both persuading and pleading with me. Well, just a little more, just wait a bit more. You know this situation. Our press service did something that might be harmful to us, a statement, that we spoke with the president in the morning and agreed that we will do everything for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. I suggested that I would talk to Yevgeny Prigozhin and try to reach a good agreement, etc.

Speaker 2: Yes.

Speaker 1: Yes, we have gone through several stages, held several negotiations, and developed a quite acceptable version for a bloodless resolution of this issue. I mean, I am already somewhat provoking the Russian side. They might have other options. Maybe they want to kill Prigozhin. It is an option. Various things are possible.

It should be noted that in July 2023, information was circulated that the German Federal Intelligence Service had intercepted phone conversations between Alexander Lukashenko and Yevgeny Prigozhin on June 24, 2023. The German media holding ARD reported that the intelligence service was aware of Lukashenko's role as a mediator. In response to journalists' inquiries, the intelligence agency stated that it does not comment publicly on its activities.

According to Lukashenko's account, during the rebellion, Putin insisted that calling Prigozhin was pointless, as he was not answering the phone.

On June 24, 2023, the Kremlin announced that Prigozhin would travel to Belarus. On June 26, 2023, Vladimir Putin stated that Wagner fighters could sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense or go to Belarus. On June 27, Lukashenko announced that Prigozhin was in Belarus.

Prigozhin claimed that Lukashenko extended a hand and offered to find solutions for the further legal operation of the private military company.

For more details, watch the video.