{"id":11585,"date":"2023-07-05T13:18:56","date_gmt":"2023-07-05T10:18:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/api.pozirk.online\/longreads\/wagner-revolt-repercussions-lukasenkas-publicity-stunt-fraught-with-problems\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T20:29:13","slug":"wagner-revolt-repercussions-lukasenkas-publicity-stunt-fraught-with-problems","status":"publish","type":"longreads","link":"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11585\/","title":{"rendered":"Wagner revolt repercussions: \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s publicity stunt fraught with problems"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n By Alaksandr K\u0142asko\u016dski, BPN<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

\n On July 1, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization\u2019s summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked leaders for supporting the Kremlin in the face of the paramilitary Wagner Group\u2019s insurrection, but stopped short of pointing out Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s special role in resolving the crisis.<\/span><\/b>\n<\/p>\n

Fame fades, issues to persist<\/h2>\n

\n\t Moscow has notably toned down its praise for \u0141uka\u0161enka after the Belarusian strongman cast himself as the savior of Russia and Putin from the armed rebellion.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Dmitry Kisilev, Russia\u2019s propaganda show host, said that it was Putin who ordered \u0141uka\u0161enka to hold talks with Yevgeny Prigozhin. Kisilev said that the Wagner Group chief initially rejected calls from the Belarusian leader until Russian forces fired several warning shots that hit the ground close to his convoy.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Clearly, Russian propaganda can spin the story to play down \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s significance. The Kremlin might have already dropped a hint that the Belarusian ruler should sing small.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Meanwhile, the invitation for Prigozhin and his men to set up a camp in Belarus may create problems for the Belarusian leader and Belarus.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The Belarusian strongman\u2019s services as broker have not made him a more independent actor for the West, while Moscow has made it clear that it simply used him to resolve Russia\u2019s internal crisis.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t The Prigozhin story has not given him room for maneuver in relations with Putin. His dependence on the Kremlin remains the same, while the Russian leader is likely to be looking for an opportunity to dig at him rather than to express his gratitude.\n<\/p>\n

Why pays?<\/h2>\n

\n\t \u0141uka\u0161enka has repeatedly stressed that Wagner fighters are expected to stay in Belarus at their own expense. He understands that any public spending on the Russian paramilitary unit might meet with opposition from fiscal sector officials and the public.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Meanwhile, the Russian president seems set to stop funding the Wagner Group after admitting it had received over $1 billion from the state budget in one year. The Russian government has moved to seize its assets in Russia and Ukraine, and may also seize its assets in Africa.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Wagner fighters were said to receive much higher wages than Belarusian military officers, therefore, Minsk can hardly afford to finance a Wagner contingent in Belarus. Nevertheless, \u0141uka\u0161enka has indicated that he would like to use mercenaries\u2019 services as trainers. The Belarusian government is reportedly building a makeshift camp for Wagner men near Asipovi\u010dy, Minsk region.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Although \u0141uka\u0161enka has reassured officials that the Wagner men would not create any problems for people and authorities, he does not seem to be quite confident of it.\n<\/p>\n

Neighbors\u2019 concern<\/h2>\n

\n\t Regardless of how many fighters will actually arrive in Belarus and how they will be used by \u0141uka\u0161enka and Putin, Warsaw, Vilnius and Kyiv are concerned about their possible presence close to their borders. The Wagner Group is seen in the West as an army of potentially dangerous war criminals.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Their presence is likely to prompt the European Union (EU) and NATO to adjust their policies.\n<\/p>\n

Naus\u0117da\u2019s proposal for equal sanctions<\/h2>\n

\n\t Lithuanian President Gitanas Naus\u0117da suggested earlier this month that Lithuania should discuss subjecting Belarusians to the same restrictive measures as Russians, linking his proposal to Wagner fighters\u2019 potential presence in Belarus.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Armed mercenaries may disguise themselves as Belarusian nationals, he noted. “I do not scare, I just suggest thinking very carefully about the situation we are now in,” Delfi<\/span> reported quoting the president. “These guys clearly have no scruples and . . . can be used for some malicious purposes.”\n<\/p>\n

\n\t This spring, Lithuanian MPs approved restrictions for Russian nationals in Lithuania. Belarusians were exempted from most of the restrictions after extensive debates. Naus\u0117da vetoed the law, seeking the same treatment for both, yet the parliament overrode the veto.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t Association with the Wagner Group has damaged Belarus\u2019 already diminished reputation and may prompt European politicians to take measures that might affect ordinary Belarusians.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s interference in the Russian crisis has created him problems in relations with Moscow, the West, elite and public.\n<\/p>\n

\n\t  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Alaksandr K\u0142asko\u016dski, BPN On July 1, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization\u2019s summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked leaders for supporting the Kremlin in the face of the paramilitary Wagner Group\u2019s insurrection, but stopped short of pointing out Alaksandr \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s special role in resolving the crisis. Fame fades, issues to persist Moscow has notably toned down […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"template":"","rubric":[22],"class_list":["post-11585","longreads","type-longreads","status-publish","hentry","rubric-theviewer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWagner revolt repercussions: \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s publicity stunt fraught with problems | Pozirk<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"By Alaksandr K\u0142asko\u016dski, BPN On July 1, during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization\u2019s summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked leaders for\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/pozirk.online\/en\/longreads\/11585\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wagner revolt repercussions: \u0141uka\u0161enka\u2019s 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