Recently, in Sochi, Russia, the controversial Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the now-notorious Wagner private military contractors. It is no surprise that this caused a wave of speculation and controversy as to why and what message the Moscow leader was trying to convey.
The Wagner Group is a Russian private military organisation (PMC) which began its operations in 2014 in Ukraine, but has since spread to countries ranging from Africa, Belarus, the Middle East, Libya and Syria. It is speculated that the PMC is funded by several private Russian companies, making it difficult to take legal action against its leaders.
Since the start of the Syrian conflict in 2011, the Wagner Group has been providing military services to the government of Syria and playing a key role in winning the battles. The group is commanded by Dmitry Utkin, who is believed to be a former officer in the Russian GRU military intelligence agency.
The meeting between Putin and the Wagner Group has caused a lot of debate and confusion, as the Russian President insists that he had absolutely no affiliation with the so-called “mercenaries” during the meeting. This response has led to speculation that Putin was instead sending a powerful message to both Russia and the wider international community.
It is thought by many that the meeting was a warning to Russia that the Kremlin sees the Wagner Group as an extension of its power, and as such, intends to keep them in check. This could also be a sign that Putin is implementing a strategy of supporting the Wagner Group’s activities while simultaneously putting limits and strict regulations on their actions.
The Kremlin has defended the meeting by asserting that it was not a meeting of rebels, but one of partners. This is an indication that Russia may be allowing the Wagner Group to exist so that it can be controlled and held accountable for its actions. This could also indicate that the Kremlin is serious about clamping down on any activity that could be seen as either illegal or excessively aggressive.
Whether or not this is true, the message behind Putin’s Wagner meeting is clear. The Russian President, despite his controversial politics, appears to be taking steps to ensure that his allies and subjects remain in line with his own standards of behavior. For sure, the future of the Wagner Group is something to watch carefully in the coming months.
