Has rebellion weakened Putin鈥檚 grip on power?
Kremlin watcher Mikhail Zyger says June鈥檚 mutiny was when Russians realised 鈥渢he emperor is naked鈥�
The June mutiny of the Russian Wagner mercenary group led by Yevgeny Prigozhin showed President Putin could no longer control members of his inner circle, dissident writer Mikhail Zygar has told the 麻豆社.
Mr Zygar who lives in exile in Germany since fleeing Moscow after Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine is known for his reporting on events within the Kremlin.
He told 麻豆社 HARDtalk that the Wagner mutiny and march on Moscow led to a loss of face for Russia鈥檚 ruler.
The events were, he said, 鈥渢he moment when everyone understands that the emperor is naked鈥�.
鈥淔or many years, (Putin) was considered to be very experienced politician who knows what he's doing,鈥� said Mr Zygar.
鈥淣ow, it's obvious that he could not control his one-time puppet鈥�.
The rebellion, launched on 23 June, lasted only 24 hours.
It saw Wagner troops seize a city and march towards Moscow.
Mr Prigozhin had demanded the sacking of Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov - the two most senior figures running Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
But Mr Prigozhin鈥檚 troops stopped short of the capital. A deal was brokered by Belarussian President Aleksandr Lukashenko between Mr Prigozhin and the Kremlin 鈥� which would see any charges against the Wagner chief dropped and a move to Belarus for the armed group.
