- The Wagner Group, a private military company (PMC) that has participated in hostilities in the Ukraine and other nations, does not exist as a legal body, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Thursday, July 14, 2023, Putin stated this in an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant.
- Putin claimed that the Wagner Group “simply does not exist” as a legal entity and that there is no law governing private military organizations in Russia.
- Putin also disclosed that on June 29, 2023, he met with leaders of the Wagner organization, including Yevgeny Prigozhin for 3 hours.
- The conference was held only five days after the startling but short-lived uprising against Moscow authorities that was launched by Prigozhin and his forces on June 23–24, 2023.
- Prigozhin rejected the proposal, claiming that “the boys won’t agree with such a decision”. However, Putin claimed that he had offered Wagner fighters the chance to continue serving under their direct commander.
- Wagner was given many career alternatives, according to Putin, including contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, relocating to the neighboring country of Belarus, or leaving the military.
- Putin further stated that he had a conversation with Wagner commanders regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and computer-generated faces and voices, and that he had committed to safeguard performers’ digital likenesses and obtain their permission before using or altering them
