NEW DELHI: Russia’s key allies displayed a strong solidarity with President Vladimir Putin during the Wagner Group’s short-lived mutiny last week as the overjoyed West expectedly celebrated the event terming it a major dent to his authority.
Russia’s all-weather partner China, Iran and Turkiye called the insurrection as its “internal affair” and issued statements reposing their faith in President Putin’s ability to effectively deal with Wagner boss Yevgeny Prizoghin’s “march for justice”, India and several countries in Africa closely monitored the developments.
Iran, a close ally of Russia, labeled the events in Russia as an “internal matter” amid tensions between the Kremlin and the Wagner paramilitary group. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani, released a statement affirming Iran’s support for the rule of law in the Russian Federation.
The mutiny unfolded when Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin accused Russian forces of attacking his fighters after they crossed the border from Ukraine into Russia. Prigozhin had previously voiced grievances about the Russian defence ministry’s alleged failure to adequately equip his paramilitary group.
ALSO READ: Did Putin mismanage Prigozhin affair?
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi expressed full support for the Russian leadership during a phone call with President Putin. Additionally, Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian assured Russia of their confidence in overcoming the current events.
Turkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan extended his “full support” to President Putin for the steps taken to address the Wagner group’s insurrection. Erdogan emphasized the need for a swift and peaceful resolution, ensuring that no party takes advantage of the crisis. The telephone conversation between the two leaders was initiated by Turkey.
China, Russia’s steadfast partner, also stood by President Putin throughout the mutiny. Chinese authorities held a meeting with Russian diplomats in Beijing. “The Wagner Group incident is Russia’s internal affair. As Russia’s friendly neighbour and comprehensive strategic partner of coordination for the new era, China supports Russia in maintaining national stability and achieving development and prosperity, and we believe in Russia’s ability to do so,” said China’s ministry of foreign affairs spokesperson Mao Ning.
ALSO READ: Watch Wagner boss very carefully: Ex-UK Army chief to Ukraine
India, another ally of Russia, chose not to release any statement regarding the events. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a comprehensive briefing on the situation on board his special flight to Cairo from Washington DC. India has refrained from condemning Russia despite constant pressure from western nations.
Despite Western media building a narrative that the mutiny exposed Putin’s vulnerability and weakened his grip on power, experts argue that the prompt quelling of the rebellion actually reinforces the Kremlin’s deterrence capabilities. The Western focus on exploiting the situation to fuel anti-Russian sentiment is part of a long-standing cognitive warfare strategy since the start of the Ukraine crisis, they argue.
Many military veterans and geopolitical experts have suggested that the mutiny could be orchestrated and warned Kyiv to closely monitor the movements of Prigozhin for a potential cross-border attack from Belarus.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE:
