Russia has announced to drop the criminal case of armed uprising against Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin after he ordered his forces to stop fighting and retreat to their bases.

The private army Wagner group’s departure follows a deal brokered by Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko under which Prigozhin and his mercenary soldiers will avoid prosecution, and Prigozhin will go into exile in Belarus. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the Belarusian president had offered to mediate himself and the Russian leadership highly appreciated his efforts.

According to Russian media, all restrictions imposed on the country’s highways were lifted after Wagner forces started to go back to their bases.