Events are unfolding so quickly in Russia (Belarus has brokered a deal to let Prigozhin escape the country with his skin intact, while his forces stand down) that the following take on the situation is already out of date. Nevertheless, it’s still worth a read.

Many thanks to Hellequin GB for translating this article from the pro-Russian German-language site Anti-Spiegel:

Wagner putsch

Putin’s speech to the nation: “This is treason”

The Wagner group under Prigozhin has launched a coup attempt in Russia. Putin gave a speech to the nation in the morning.

The Wagner Group has launched a coup attempt in Russia. With thousands of soldiers, tanks and vehicles, the group has taken control of Rostov and a column is on its way towards Moscow. In the morning, President Putin delivered a speech to the nation, which I translated for information.

Start of translation:

I appeal to the citizens of Russia, to the members of the armed forces, law enforcement and intelligence services, to the soldiers and commanders who are now fighting in their positions, repelling the enemy’s attacks and doing it heroically — I know this, because I have talked to the commanders of all sections again this evening. I also address those who, through deceit or threats, were lured into this criminal adventure and pushed down the path of the most serious crime, armed insurrection.

Today, Russia is fighting a hard battle for its future, repelling the aggression of the neo-Nazis and their string-pullers. Practically the entire military, economic and information machinery of the West is directed against us. We fight for the life and security of our people, for our sovereignty and independence. For the right to be and to remain Russia — a state with a thousand-year history.

This struggle, in which the fate of our people will be decided, requires the unity of all forces, unity, consolidation and responsibility. Now everything that weakens us, every kind of discord that our enemies outside can and will use to undermine us from within must be pushed aside.

And that’s why actions that split our unity are a de facto turning away from our people, from our comrades who are now fighting on the front lines. This is a stab in the back of our country and our people.

This is exactly the kind of blow that was inflicted on Russia in 1917 when the country fought in World War I. Victory has been stolen from the country. Intrigues, squabbles, political machinations behind the backs of the army and the people led to the greatest upheaval, the defeat of the army and the collapse of the state, the loss of vast territories. The result was the tragedy of the Civil War.

Russians killed Russians, brothers killed their brothers, and benefited all sorts of political adventurers and foreign forces that divided and torn the country apart.

We will not allow this to happen again. We will protect both our people and our statehood from all threats. Also against betrayal from within.

This is precisely the betrayal we are dealing with. Unreasonable ambition and self-interest led to betrayal. For betraying their country, their people and the cause for which the fighters and commanders of Wagner Group fought and died alongside our other units and formations. The heroes who liberated Soledar and Artemovsk, towns and villages in Donbass, fought and gave their lives for Novorossiya, for the unity of the Russian world. Their names and fame have been betrayed by those trying to organize the uprising and push the country towards anarchy and fratricide. Ultimately toward defeat and surrender.

I repeat: any internal turmoil is a deadly threat to our statehood, to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia, to our people. And our measures to defend the Fatherland against this threat will be tough. All those who consciously chose the path of treason, who prepared an armed uprising, who chose the path of blackmail and terrorist methods, will suffer the inevitable punishment, will have to answer to both the law and our people.

The armed forces and other authorities have received the necessary instructions, and additional anti-terrorist measures are being launched in Moscow, the Moscow region and a number of other regions. Determined efforts are also being made to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don. It remains complicated as the work of the civil and military authorities is effectively blocked.

As President of Russia and Commander-in-Chief, as a citizen of Russia, I will do everything to defend the country, to protect the constitutional order, life, security and freedom of its citizens.

Those who organized and prepared the military uprising, who took up arms against their comrades, betrayed Russia. And they will be held responsible for it. And I urge those who are being implicated in this crime not to make the fatal and tragic unique mistake, but to make the only right decision: to cease involvement in the criminal activities.

I believe that we will preserve and defend what is dear and sacred to us, and that together with our Fatherland we will overcome all trials and become even stronger.

end of translation

Afterword from the translator:

I have no idea what is happening in Russia and under whose order these people are acting. I wont even try to make a guess, but to me it looks like one mercenary globalist is at the throat of another mercenary globalist, and it will not matter to the average Russian who comes out “victorious” in this squabble, because they are in the same boat — just on a different thwart — as the rest of us “useless eaters”.