Led by leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has threatened to overthrow Russia’s military leadership, several thousand Wagner troops marched toward Moscow on Saturday.

Russian President, Vladimir Putin, later appeared in a televised address.

– That’s the tape that was sent there, and That doesn’t really signify strength, says Aage Storm Borchgrevink, author and senior adviser to the Helsinki Committee.

Since then, there has been silence from Putin. There has been a statement from him through the Kremlin, but the president has not been on TV or spoken of yesterday.

– There are no signs of strength either, but signs of a weakening president, said Borchgrevink.

In a televised speech at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Putin said that “special military operations” had top priority. He’s referring here to the war in Ukraine.

But according to some media outlets, including Russian Tass, it was recorded on June 21 – that is, a few days before the uprising in Russia.

– Defeat

In a televised speech during the riots on Saturday, Putin described boss Wagner as a traitor. He said the army had been given broad powers to crack down on rebellions and anyone who offered armed resistance would be branded as traitors.

– Putin definitely appears here as a strong and vital person, but at the same time related to a non-existent world, said Borchgrevink of the Helsinki Committee.

The fact that on Saturday evening an agreement was negotiated with President Aleksandr Lukashenko in Belarus, perhaps cannot be interpreted as anything other than a defeat for Putin, said Borchgrevink.

– That he made a deal right after this speech is weak, he said.

Both the soldiers and Prigozhin have been granted amnesty, and according to a spokesman for Putin, Prigozhin will move to Belarus.

– None of Putin’s heroes, the former tsar and tsarina, will let the rebels go. In Russia 300 years ago, these people’s heads were staked outside the Kremlin, says Borchgrevink.

– Border

Saturday’s uprising marked a change for Putin, said Borchgrevink.

– There was a border crossed in Russia yesterday, the first open uprising. A completely new situation has emerged in which we live now – and a weaker Putin, he said.

– This is a big defeat for him, he added.

According to Borchgrevink, some people predicted something like yesterday could happen in Russia.

– Russia’s power apparatus consists of various gangster leaders, and some have mentioned that Putin has been playing with fire when he builds competing militias, such as Prigozhin, which is dangerous to build monsters, he said.

– The column consisted of 4,000 people

– Must be worried

– Is this now Putin’s biggest fear?

– What he’s afraid of now is “I got over this, what will happen next?” Besides, he has to worry about how the war in Ukraine will play out, Borchgrevink answered.

– What can help Putin now?

– This can help to strike in Ukraine, the author answered.

– At the same time, what happened yesterday is very Russian. People thought it was all screwed up, too “plop, it’s over”, and everyone went home, he added.