Putin says Wagner Group doesn’t legally exist

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Kommersant correspondent Andrei Kolesnikov that at a meeting with Wagner Group on June 29, he offered the company’s commanders “several options for employment,” including — under the leadership of their direct commander, call sign Sedoy.

“On the one hand, at the meeting, I gave an assessment of what they did on the battlefield, and on the other hand, what they did during the events of June 24. Third, I showed them their possible options for their further service, including combat. That’s all,” the Russian president said.

He explained that “all of them could be together in one place and continue to serve,” and “nothing would have changed for them.”

“They would have been led by the same person who was their real commander all this time,” Putin said.

“Many people nodded when I said that. And Prigozhin, who was sitting in front and didn’t see it, said after listening, ’No, the guys don’t agree with that decision,’” the Russian president claimed.

Kolesnikov also asked Putin if Wagner Group would remain “as a combat unit.” To this, the Russian president replied that Wagner Group does not exist, as Russia has no law on private military organizations.

“We don’t have a law on private military organizations! It simply does not exist! <…> The group exists, but legally it does not exist! This is a separate issue related to actual legalization. But this is a question that should be discussed in the State Duma, in the government. It’s not an easy question,” Putin added.