That’s a lie.

Putin indirectly addressed a question many people in Russia and abroad have been asking since the mutiny began: Why was it not crushed, swiftly and mercilessly, by Russia’s much larger military before Wagner could seize a regional military headquarters and push hundreds of miles toward Moscow?

“From the very beginning of the events, on my direct instructions, steps were taken to avoid a lot of bloodshed,” he said. “This took time, including to give those who made a mistake a chance to change their minds.”

Putin, avoid bloodshed? Puh-leaze. Prigozhin didn’t change his mind to kinder, gentler. Lukashenko got him and his group amnestied, which on paper from the Russians and in reality from other Russian statements isn’t worth the cost of the paper. Why was Putin angry, then? If forgive-and-forget is his new motto why was a cornerstone of Lukashenko’s deal that Prigozhin leave Rus? It’s all lies.