Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed to the people, APA reports.
The address reads:
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“I appeal to the citizens of Russia, the personnel of the Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, the soldiers and commanders who are now fighting in their combat positions, repelling the enemy’s attacks, and doing it heroically. I also appeal to those who were lured into a criminal adventure by deception or threat, who were driven to the path of serious crime – armed rebellion.
Today, Russia is fighting hard for its future, overcoming the aggression of the neo-Nazis and their masters. Virtually the entire military, economic and information machine of the West is directed against us. We are fighting for the life and safety of our people, our sovereignty and independence.
This battle, in which the fate of our people is decided, requires the unification, unity, consolidation and responsibility of all forces. Everything that weakens us must be cast aside, and we must not follow any sedition that our external enemies can use to undermine us from within.
Therefore, the actions that divide our unity are actually apostasy from our people, from our comrades-in-arms who are now fighting at the front. This is a blow to the back of our country and people.”
Putin compared what happened with the revolution of 1917. According to him, Russia’s victory in the World War I was stolen at that time.
“Internal intrigues, quarrels, the politics behind the army and the people turned into the biggest shock, the destruction of the army and the collapse of the state, and the loss of large territories. As a result, the tragedy of the civil war occurred.
We will not let this happen again. We will protect both our people and our statehood from any danger. Including – from internal betrayal.
What we are facing is betrayal. Excessive ambitions and personal interests led to betrayal.
Again, any internal turmoil is a mortal threat to our statehood, to us as a nation. This is a blow to Russia and our people. Our actions will be tough to protect the motherland from such a threat. All those who deliberately stepped on the path of treason, prepared an armed rebellion, resorted to blackmail and terrorist methods will suffer their inevitable punishment and will answer both before the law and before our people.
The Armed Forces and other government agencies have received the necessary instructions, and additional anti-terrorist measures are currently being implemented in Moscow, the Moscow province and several other regions. Decisive steps will be taken to stabilize the situation in Rostov-on-Don. The situation remains difficult, in fact, the work of civil and military authorities is hampered.
As the President and Commander-in-Chief of Russia, as a citizen of Russia, I will do everything to defend the country, protect the constitutional structure, life, safety and freedom of citizens.
Those who organized and prepared the military rebellion raised arms to their comrades in arms, betrayed Russia and will be held accountable for it. And I urge those who are drawn to this crime not to make a fatal and tragic, unique mistake, to make the only right choice – to stop participating in criminal acts.
I believe that we will protect what is dear and sacred to us, we will overcome any test together with our Motherland, and we will become even stronger,” the address emphasizes.
***11:10
Vladimir Putin has accused the Wagner mercenary group’s leader of “treason” as his troops reached a key Russian city after crossing the border from Ukraine, APA reports.
Yeveny Prigozhin, who has called for an armed rebellion aimed at ousting Russia’s defense minister, posted a video of himself in Rostov-on-Don at the Russian military headquarters that oversees the fighting in Ukraine.
In a dramatic escalation of the war, he has threatened to march on Moscow and vowed revenge after claiming 2,000 of his men were killed in Russian strikes.
Source: Azeri-Press News Agency