Recent reports indicate that Yevgeny Prigozhin, leader of the Wagner mercenary group, has been seen in St. Petersburg, Russia, despite earlier agreements suggesting his exile to Belarus following his short-lived mutiny. This revelation has sparked confusion and speculation about the true outcome of the negotiations between Prigozhin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mikhail Zygar, a Russian journalist now living outside Russia, expressed surprise at Prigozhin's presence in St. Petersburg. He cited sources claiming Prigozhin was observed at the local FSB office retrieving confiscated weapons and belongings. Zygar pointed out that official statements from Lukashenko and Putin's spokesperson never explicitly stated Prigozhin's immediate relocation to Belarus.

Left: Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko; Center: Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin; Right: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images I Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images I Contributor/Getty Images)

Prigozhin recently broke his silence with an audio message posted on a pro-Wagner Telegram channel. In the message, he defended the mutiny as a fight against "traitors," seemingly seeking public support. While the authenticity of the recording couldn't be independently verified, Zygar noted that audio messages have been Prigozhin's preferred communication method, although this one lacked his usual passionate delivery.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the Wagner private mercenary group, leaves a cemetery before the funeral of a Russian military blogger who was killed in a bomb attack in a St. Petersburg cafe in Moscow April 8, 2023. (Reuters/Yulia Morozova/File Photo)

Putin has spent the past week asserting that Prigozhin and Wagner lacked public backing for their actions, contradicting the seemingly smooth takeover of Rostov-on-Don and the imagery that emerged. The uncertainty surrounding Prigozhin's continued presence in Russia and Putin's next steps raises concerns. Prigozhin insists the mutiny targeted military leadership, not Putin himself, citing mistreatment of his soldiers. However, experts like Zygar believe dismantling Wagner isn't feasible due to its role in carrying out sensitive operations for the Kremlin abroad.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on monitors as he addresses the nation after Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner Group military company, called for armed rebellion and reached the southern city of Rostov-on-Don with his troops in Moscow June 24, 2023.  (Pavel Bednyakov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP, File)

Zygar predicts Putin will face pressure to address the mutiny, potentially holding someone accountable as the 2024 Russian presidential election approaches. More concerning, however, is how Putin might attempt to divert attention from this domestic challenge, possibly through escalating the conflict in Ukraine or other foreign policy maneuvers.

Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin leaves the headquarters of the Southern Military District amid the group's pullout from the city of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, June 24, 2023. (REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko)