Wagner boss Prigozhin is in Russia, no risks for Belarus from potential Wagner PMC camps - Lukashenko

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin - who led a short-lived armed rebellion in Russia last month - is in Russia and not Belarus, the leader of Belarus says.

Prigozhin's whereabouts have been a mystery since he was seen in southern Russia during the mutiny.

 Just over a week ago Mr Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus since 1994 and is widely thought to have rigged 2020 elections to maintain power, said Prigozhin had arrived in Belarus.

But on Thursday Mr Lukashenko told reporters: "As for Prigozhin, he's in St Petersburg. He is not on the territory of Belarus."

The BBC tracked Prigozhin's private jet flying to Belarus in late June, and returning to Russia the same evening.

It has since made several flights between St Petersburg and Moscow - although it is not clear if Prigozhin has been on board. The BBC also can't verify Mr Lukashenko's claim about the Wagner leader's current location.[BBC]

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  Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday there are no risks in the Wagner private military company setting up camps in his country.

"I think Wagner PMC building camps in Belarus carries absolutely no risks," Lukashenko told foreign and Belarusian reporters.

Wagner fighters and commanders may share their experience with the Belarusian Armed Forces, he said. "I mean, the military experience they have accumulated," the Belarusian leader specified. [TASS]