Putin forces mercenaries to take oath two days after Prigozhin’s death

2023-08-25 17:36:43

While the Wagner group has been in decline since its aborted mutiny, the Russian militias are now called upon to come to terms. Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Friday requiring members of paramilitary formations to take an oath to Russia, two days after the alleged death of the Wagner boss.

According to this decree published on the government’s website, they must in particular swear “fidelity” and “loyalty” to Russia and “strictly follow the orders of commanders and superiors”, as soldiers of the regular army do. .

They also undertake to “sacredly respect the Russian Constitution”, “conscientiously carry out the tasks entrusted (to them)” and “courageously defend the independence and constitutional order” of the country.

This decree concerns persons enlisted as a voluntary combatant, those “contributing to the execution of the tasks assigned to the Russian armed forces” and other “military bodies and formations”, including the territorial defense forces formed during the conflict. in Ukraine.

Did Wagner’s mutiny serve as a lesson?

While mercenarism is prohibited by law in Russia, the activities of “private military companies” officially offering “security” services, of which Wagner is the most important and best known, are tolerated.

The text was signed two months after the abortive rebellion of the Wagner group, which, under the orders of its boss Evgueni Prigojine, was angry with the Russian military hierarchy, accused of incompetence.

Prigozhin is presumed dead after a plane crashing Wednesday night carrying him from Moscow to St. Petersburg alongside his right-hand man Dmitry Utkin and other Wagner officials. Despite suspicions of assassination by the authorities, the Kremlin has denied any responsibility in this crash.