Military who took part in the suppression of the attempted armed mutiny on June 24 actually stopped the civil war in Russia, acted clearly and harmoniously, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday.
"You defended the constitutional order, the life, security and freedom of our citizens. You saved our motherland from upheavals, actually stopped the civil war. In a difficult situation, you acted clearly, harmoniously, by deed you proved your loyalty to the people of Russia and the military oath," Putin said in his address to the security forces who were suppressing the rebellion.
Russian president thanked the personnel of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and special services for their courage, valor and loyalty to the people of Russia.
"I thank you, all the personnel of the armed forces, law enforcement agencies and special services for their service, for courage and valor, for loyalty to the people of Russia," Putin said.
According to him, the rapid and precise deployment of law enforcement units made it possible to stop the extremely dangerous development of the situation in the country and prevent civilian casualties.
The determination and courage of the servicemen, as well as the consolidation of Russian society, played a decisive role in suppressing the armed rebellion, the president said.
"Your determination and courage, as well as the consolidation of the entire Russian society, have played a huge, decisive role in stabilizing the situation," he stressed.
Law enforcement officers at the time of the attempted armed mutiny acted smoothly and ensured the safety of important facilities, he said.
"The units of the Ministry of Defense, the Russian Guards, the employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and special services ensured the reliable operation of the most important control centers, strategic, including defense, facilities, the security of border regions, the strength of the rear of our armed forces, all combat units that continued to heroically fight at the front at that time. We did not have to remove combat units from the zone of their own," the president noted.
According to the president, the people who were drawn into the rebellion saw that the army and the people were not with the rebellions.
"The people who were dragged into the rebellion saw that the army, the people were not with them [the rebellions]. The rapid and precise deployment of law enforcement units made it possible to stop the extremely dangerous development of the situation in the country. To prevent civilian casualties," Putin said.
On June 23 Evgeny Prigozhin, head of a Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) made statements about the alleged missile and bomb attacks on the camps of the Wagner PMCs by the Russian Armed Forces, which were denied by both the Ministry of Defense and the FSB (Federal Security Service).
Later, on June 24, Wagner PMC captured headquarters of the Russian Southern Military District the in Rostov-on-Don with Wagner's head declaring a military march on Moscow, using the allegations as an excuse.
Vladimir Putin called the actions of the rebels a criminal adventure, a stab in the back of Russia and treason, which was led by excessive ambitions and personal interests.
Later, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, in coordination with Putin, held talks with Prigozhin, after which Lukashenko's press service reported that the head of the PMC accepted on proposal of the Belorussian president to stop the Wagner movement to Russia's capital and on further steps to de-escalate.
According to Kremlin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, Prigozhin will leave for Belarus, while other Wagner members will not be prosecuted.