I’m Putin’s number one enemy – here’s why Wagner Group rebellion isn’t over and will end in bloodshed

Wagner leader Prigozhin’s shocking u-turn that saw him stand down his fighters in an attempted Russian coup is “just the beginning”, warned Putin’s number one enemy. Following today’s unprecedented taking up of arms against Putin, Bill Browder told The Sun that trust in Russia is broken – and the future of the federation hangs in the balance. APYevgeny Prigozhin has begun a new era in the Kremlin following his attempted coup[/caption] APWagner group mercenaries took over the Russian city of Rostov[/caption] ReutersCracks are beginning to show in Russian government, experts have said[/caption] The Wagner mercenary group has agreed to “stop the movement of armed persons” after attempting a rebellion against Russia and Vladimir Putin earlier today. Yevgeny Prigozhin‘s soldiers have now turned back to their bases after agreeing to de-escalate the rebellion to “avoid bloodshed”. Despite the temporary peace in Russia, Browder told The Sun Online he doesn’t think there’s a way to de-escalate at this point. He said: “Putin can’t forgive somebody who has disrespected him in such a powerful way. “Putin already tried to kill Prigozhin, and he [Prigozhin] understands they’ll probably try it again. I think nobody trusts anyone now.” Prigozhin’s blatant criticisms of Kremlin leadership – including Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Armed Forces Commander General Valery Gerasimov – have raised eyebrows across the globe. Samantha de Bendern, a Russia expert at Chatham House, told The Sun: “Prigozhin has had to have support from Putin or from someone else to be able to behave the way he has.  “But now the gloves are off… This may well be the end of Prigozhin, but it could also be the end of Putin.” If tensions in Russia continue to simmer even as the situation begins to “de-escalate”, the future of Russia is grim. What we know: Wagner Group forces were in open rebellion as an arrest warrant was issued for warlord Yevgeny PrigozhinPutin delivered an early morning address, raging: “This is treason”Mercenary company marched on Moscow with 25,000 soldiers after crossing border from the battlefields in UkraineAnd then an eleventh-hour intervention seemingly saw Prigozhin agree to stand down his menRishi Sunak called a Cobra meeting as the UK monitored the situation along with the rest of the WestUkraine celebrated the infighting in Russia – and said it showed weaknessWagner troops engaged with Russian military forces on the road to MoscowHelicopters and a spy plane were reportedly been shot down, and an oil depot was blown upWagner warlord Yevgeny Prigozhin claims he wants to oust the Russian military top brassPrigozhin flees to Belarus and arrest warrant is dropped in Kremlin deal brokered by LukashenkoWagner forces retreat and leave Russia’s military HQ James Rodgers, former BBC Moscow correspondent and professor at City University London, said the similarities between today’s events and past upheaval in Russia are clear. He said: “There are parallels with big changes in Russia coming about because wars were unsuccessful, such as the 1905 Revolution because Russia lost the war with Japan, which preceded the 1917 revolution. “The Soviet Union’s defeat in Afghanistan was also a factor in the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. “I don’t think we’re there yet – but this is a hugely significant moment in Russian history, this open defiance and willingness to rise up and take arms against the state authorities.” Prigozhin formerly warned that if “ordinary Russians” continue getting their children back in coffins while the children of the elite “sun themselves abroad”, Russia would face turmoil along the lines of the 1917 revolutions. Browder said: “Let’s just say that this just says that this thing does de-escalate – there’s gonna be a massive purge of the Kremlin like we’ve never seen before. “Putin is going to go after everybody he distrusts in every possible way and it’s going to be a total disaster for all people inside the establishment as Putin tests their loyalty – because this is the scariest thing that has ever happened to Putin. “They’ve emptied out the prisons, and now they’re going to fill them up with perceived enemies of the regime. “I don’t think anything is over. I think it’s just beginning.” AFPPutin condemned the soldiers committing ‘mutiny’[/caption] EPATanks took over Rostov earlier today before Prigozhin withdrew his troops[/caption] ReutersFighters began withdrawing following the “truce”[/caption] TwitterRussian soldiers took up positions on the side of Moscow highways[/caption]