CNN —Nearly three years ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin stood by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in his hour of need, backing Europe’s longest-running dictator as he faced a wave of street protests. Now Lukashenko appears to have come through for Putin, if we are to believe what the Kremlin and the Belarusian presidential press service tell us. A quick recap: A major crisis shook the foundations of the Russian state Saturday, as forces loyal to Wagner mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin marched toward Moscow. And the Kremlin and Belarusian account of Lukashenko’s mediation appear to stretch credibility. And it was his personal proposal, which was agreed with President Putin.

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Persons: Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, Europe’s, Lukashenko, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, —, –, Dmitry Peskov, Alexander Grigoryevich, Putin, Peskov, “, what’s, Putin —, Russia —, Delegating Lukashenko, Prigozhin’s Organizations: CNN, Putin, Kremlin Locations: Russian, Moscow, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Belarusian, Africa