With the situation in Russia becoming unpredictable, Latvia’s diplomatic and consular services in foreign countries decided to cease processing all forms of visa requests from Russian citizens on Monday, the 26th of June, as confirmed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
All visa requests received and whose processing commenced before the 25th of June will be reviewed to the end.
Last Friday Prigozhin announced Wagner Group entered Russia from Ukraine on the way to Moscow to overthrow Russia’s military commanders.
Mercenaries took over Rostov-on-Don and reached Voronezh and Lipetsk on their way to Moscow, prompting the capital city to start protection measures.
In the evening on Saturday, however, Prigozhin announced his mercenaries had stopped on their way to Moscow, and that they will turn around. Later the same day the governor of Rostov Vasily Golubev announced Wagner forces were returning to field camps outside Rostov-on-Don. Russian news agency RIA Novosti, referencing eyewitness reports, that Prigozhin had also left the headquarters of Russia’s Southern Military Region’s headquarters in Rostov-on-Don.
Kremlin allowed Prigozhin to move to Belarus. Wagner Group mercenaries will be relieved of criminal liability for the armed uprising, as confirmed by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press-secretary Dmitry Peskov, adding that the Kremlin is not aware what Prigozhin will be doing in Belarus.
According to Peskov, some Wagner Group mercenaries that refused to participate in the uprising will sign contracts with Russian Ministry of Defence.
Also read: Vilnius calls for strengthening the NATO presence if Prigozhin ends up in Belarus