Security Enhanced in Multiple Russian Regions following Alleged Coup Attempt
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has initiated a criminal case for inciting armed mutiny based on statements attributed to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner group, according to Russian Media.
Amidst accusations of staging an armed insurrection, Russia is facing a period of unrest.
Late on Friday, charges were filed against Prigozhin after he accused Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and General Valery Gerasimov, the chair of the Russian general staff, of serious crimes. Prigozhin claimed to have ordered his loyal troops to advance towards Rostov-on-Don, a major city in southern Russia. Additionally, security measures have reportedly been heightened in Moscow.
The FSB has expressed concerns about a potential escalation within Russian territory, while the Russian Defense Ministry has refuted social media reports of alleged Russian military strikes on camps affiliated with the PMC Wagner. The ministry accused Evgeny Prigozhin of spreading false information after a video circulated online, supposedly showing a rocket strike on one of the company's bases from within Russian borders. The ministry stated that the distributed messages and videos do not correspond to reality and are an act of disinformation, Russia Today reported.
In response to a video purporting to show the aftermath of a missile attack on a Wagner camp, Prigozhin issued a statement indicating fatalities and blaming the Russian Defense Ministry. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been briefed on the situation involving Prigozhin and Wagner, and necessary measures are being taken, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov has submitted a report to Putin regarding Prigozhin's case. Consequently, security has been heightened in various regions of Russia, including Moscow, on Saturday morning. The governor of Rostov-on-Don announced the cancellation of all planned public events for the weekend, and temporary alterations to traffic routes in the city have been implemented.
Governor Andrey Vorobyov of the Moscow Region stated that security and anti-terrorist measures have been enforced. Additional road checks in the southern direction are also possible, while individuals are advised to avoid personal trips outside the region. Moscow's Mayor Sergey Sobyanin declared the introduction of enhanced security measures and additional road control in response to the received information. The holding of mass public events might be restricted.
The Voronezh regional government advised residents to refrain from using the M-4 Don federal highway temporarily, as a convoy of military equipment was observed moving along the route. The safety of local residents is being prioritized. Rostov regional Governor Vasily Golubev urged local residents to avoid traveling to the center of Rostov-on-Don and encouraged them to stay at home. Similarly, security measures have been reinforced in Russia's Lipetsk Region, and residents have been requested to avoid traveling southward, Sputnik reported.
