Putin accuses the Wagner group of treason and assures that those responsible will pay

Russian President Vladimir Putin described this Saturday as treason the uprising started last night by the group of Wagner mercenaries, headed by Yevgeny Prigozhinand affirmed that those responsible will pay for it.

"The one who organized and prepared the military rebellion betrayed Russia and will answer for it“, he stated during a speech to the nation broadcast on public television.

According to Putin, "those who tried to organize this rebellion, (...) push the country into anarchy and fraticide, to defeat and capitulation”.

He stressed that "any internal struggle is a deadly threat to our state“.

“Our actions to protect the homeland from this threat will be steadfast. All those who consciously took the path of treason, those who prepared the armed rebellion and took the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, they will receive an inescapable punishment, they will answer before the law and before the people," he said.

The Russian president said that the Armed Forces have already received the orders and that they are taking anti-terrorist measures in Moscow and other Russian regions.

"Measures will also be taken to stabilize the situation in Rostov on Donwhich continues to be difficult, in fact the functioning of civil and military entities is blocked,” he added.

“As president and commander-in-chief, as a Russian citizen, I will do everything to defend the country. Defend the constitutional order, life and security, the freedom of citizens, ”he assured.

However, he left the door open to those who try to involve in the uprising "not make a fatal and tragic mistake” and make the only correct decision: “cease your participation in criminal actions”.

Putin addressed "to the citizens of Russiato the members of the Armed Forces, to the Police and to the intelligence services, to the soldiers and commanders who are now fighting and heroically repelling the Ukrainian attacks”.

He also addressed those who "by means of lies or threats were implicated in a dangerous adventure, in the path of a serious crime, armed rebellion."

He stated that “today, Russia is fighting a very difficult battle for its futurerepels the attacks of neo-Nazis and their owners.

"Against us works the whole military, economic and informational machine of the West. We fight for the life and security of our people, for our sovereignty and independence, for the right to be and continue to be Russia, a state with a thousand-year history,” he said.

He pointed out that in this battle, "in which the future of the people is decided," he demands "unity of all forces, consolidation and responsibility, when we must put aside everything that weakens us, any disagreement that can take advantage of our external enemies to exploit us from withineither".

"For this reason, any action that undermines our unity is essentially a betrayal of our people, of our fellow fighters who are fighting on the front lines, it is a stab in the back of our country and our people," he said.

He recalled that something similar happened in 1917 during the First World War, when Russia "was robbed of victory" through "intrigues, gossip, politicking behind the backs of the people" that led to the disintegration of the state and the loss of enormous territories.

“As a result, the tragedy of the civil war, Russians killing Russians, brothers killing brothers, while various political adventurers took personal advantage and foreign forces tore the country to pieces. We won't let this happen again We will defend our people and our State from any threat“he added.

“Including internal betrayal, as we face it is just a betrayal. Excessive political ambitions and personal interests led to betrayal, betrayal of their country and their people, to the cause in which Wagner's soldiers and commanders, the heroes who liberated, fought shoulder to shoulder and died alongside our units. Soledar and Ariomovsk (Bakhmut), the cities and towns of Donbas," he said.