Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko claimed that he convinced Russian President Vladimir Putin not to eliminate Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of a mercenary group, following a mutiny that took place in Russia. Initially, Putin had vowed to suppress the mutiny, comparing it to the revolutionary chaos of 1917, but a deal was later reached allowing Prigozhin and some of his fighters to seek refuge in Belarus. Lukashenko revealed this information while discussing his conversation with Putin, using criminal slang for killing someone. He proposed talking to Prigozhin and his commanders, arguing against hasty actions. Lukashenko, who is acquainted with Prigozhin and a close ally of Putin, expressed concern that eliminating Prigozhin could incite a revolt among his fighters. He also stated that the Belarusian army could benefit from the experience of the Wagner troops, who have been granted permission to relocate to Belarus. Lukashenko emphasized the pragmatic approach and the potential knowledge-sharing between the two groups. Prigozhin halted his movement towards Moscow following Lukashenko’s intervention from Rostov-on-Don, which is approximately 200 kilometers away from the capital.