Russian road agency lifts traffic restrictions imposed amid Wagner’s insurrection

TASS news agency reports traffic restrictions lifted as tension between Wagner, Moscow eases

Road traffic restrictions imposed following Wagner paramilitary group’s armed rebellion against Moscow have been lifted, Russia’s Federal Road Agency, Rosavtodor, told the media early Sunday. The “restrictions have been lifted,” the agency announced, according to Russian news agency, TASS. The restrictions were imposed following the Wagner’s leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin’s announcement that his fighters would proceed to Moscow, prompting the Kremlin to enhance security measures across various regions of the country. Prigozhin later claimed his fighters decided to turn back to avoid bloodshed when they were 200 kilometers (124 miles) from Moscow, while Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said he held talks with the Wagner head with Putin's accord, and Prigozhin accepted a de-escalation deal. Wagner accused Russian forces on Friday of attacking its fighters and the group subsequently crossed from Ukraine into the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. In response, the Federal Security Service in Russia initiated a criminal case against Wagner for "armed mutiny." Russian President Vladimir Putin labeled Wagner's uprising as an act of "treason."