Wagner boss Prighozin’s death: President Putin has introduced a new rule for paramilitary fighters.
ENigeria Newspaper reports that Putin is making a new rule for paramilitary fighters by creating a decree forcing them to swear oath of allegiance to Russia.
According to President Vladimir Putin, Russian paramilitary fighters will have to swear an oath to the Russian flag. This is in accord with a presidential decree of Friday, August 25, 2023, which is coming exactly two days after the reported death of Wagner mercenary group chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
The measure is aimed at “forming the spiritual and moral foundations for the defense of the Russian Federation” and… applies to members of volunteer formations — a term usually describing mercenary groups — according to the decree by Putin.
It also applies to groups “contributing to the execution of tasks given to the armed forces” and territorial defence units, the decree published on the Kremlin website said.
Fighters must pledge “their loyalty to the Russian Federation… strictly follow their commanders and superiors’ orders, and conscientiously fulfil their obligations,” the decree read.
The document was signed by President Vladimir Putin two months after Prigozhin led his fighters on a deadly rebellion against Moscow’s top brass.
Asked about the future of Wagner, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday that “legally the Wagner private military group does not exist.”