STORY: Putin lays out options for Wagner soldiers in national address
DATELINE: June 27, 2023
LENGTH: 00:01:45
LOCATION: Moscow
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of Moscow
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Russian): VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President (Source: Kremlin)
3. various of Moscow
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Russian): VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President (Source: Kremlin)
5. various of Moscow

STORYLINE:

In his address to Russian citizens Monday night, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the majority of the fighters of the Wagner group are patriots of Russia, and they were simply used without their knowledge during the armed mutiny.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Russian): VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President
"We knew that the vast majority of the fighters and commanders of the Wagner group are also Russian patriots, devoted to their people and state."

The president noted that the organizers of the mutiny in Russia betrayed the country and those who followed them and "an armed rebellion would have been suppressed in any case."

He proposed the soldiers of the Wagner group to sign contract with the country's defense ministry, return home or go to Belarus.
   
Meanwhile, Putin thanked all Russian servicemen, law enforcement officers and special services who prevented the mutiny.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Russian): VLADIMIR PUTIN, Russian President
"I thank all our servicemen, law enforcement officers, special services who stood in the way of the rebels. You have remained faithful to your duty, your oath, and the people."

Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee announced on Saturday that a counter-terrorist operation regime was introduced in Moscow city, the Moscow region and the Voronezh region to prevent possible terrorist acts after the Wagner private military group was accused of trying to organize an armed rebellion.
   
However, according to local reports, Moscow and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner private military group, later reached a compromise through the mediation of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
   
Russia's National Anti-terrorism Committee declared on Monday that the legal regime of the counter-terrorist operation had been canceled in Moscow, the Moscow region and Voronezh region due to the normalization of situation.
   
Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Moscow.
(XHTV)