Putin says Russia will defend itself from domestic betrayal

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised speech on Saturday that the current events are a betrayal of the country and its people, and Russia will defend itself from internal betrayal.

Putin said: “We will defend our people and our state from any threats, including internal treachery. What we encountered can precisely be called treason. Unlimited ambitions and personal interests led to the betrayal of the country and its people.”

Putin also noted that this led to the betrayal of “the cause for which fighters and commanders of the Wagner Group fought and lost their lives alongside other formations and units.”

“The heroes who liberated Soledar and Artyomovsk, the cities and towns of Donbass, who fought and lost their lives for Novorossiya, for the unity of the Russian world — their name and glory were also betrayed by those trying to organize an insurrection and drive the country towards anarchy, fratricide, defeat and finally surrender.” .

Putin stressed that a repeat of the civil war in the country would not be allowed.

Earlier, the Telegram channel of the founder of the private military company Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, published several audio recordings containing accusations against the country’s military leaders. In the aftermath, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) opened a criminal case in calling for armed rebellion. The FSB urged Wagner’s fighters not to obey Prigozhin’s orders and to take measures to arrest him.