Russian General Surovikin was interrogated and released – Russian media

Olena Roshchina — Thursday, 29 June 2023, 20:08

SERGEI SUROVIKIN AND VLADIMIR PUTIN, PHOTO FROM TELEGRAM VAZHNYE ISTORII

According to one of the versions in the Russian media, Sergei Surovikin, Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces of the Russian Federation and Deputy Commander of the Russian Forces in Ukraine, was not arrested; he was interrogated and released.

Source: Vazhnye Istorii (Important stories); Bloomberg; Mediazone

Details: Sources of the Vazhnye Istorii media outlet do not confirm the arrest of General Surovikin in connection with his involvement in the rebellion of Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. Two sources close to the General Staff and the FSB (Federal Security Service of Russia) said that Surovikin was not arrested and he is not in Lefortovo Prison; he was interrogated but then released.

Bloomberg also wrote that Surovikin was questioned about Prigozhin's rebellion. According to the source of this media outlet, the general "is being kept in one place but isn’t in prison, and investigators are treating him cautiously to avoid antagonizing others within the military who admire Surovikin’s record of achievements with the army."

Z-channels wrote that on 29 June, Surovikin allegedly attended a meeting in the city of Rostov-on-Don, but journalist Dmitry Kolezev denies this. According to the journalist, Sergei Shoigu accused Surovikin of treason, but they are afraid to arrest the general because the officers are for him. Shoigu will try to "blacken" Surrovikin as much as possible.

Background:

Earlier, the Russian media outlets wrote that on 25 June, Surovikin was detained and sent to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention centre, controlled by the FSB. Financial Times also wrote about the detention of the general.
The American media outlets The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, quoting information from intelligence services, wrote that Prigozhin informed Surovikin about the preparation of the rebellion and that some Russian generals could sympathise with the rebels. NYT sources believed Prigozhin survived the rebellion because of his friendship with Surovikin.
Surovikin's daughter said that nothing happened, and Surovikin's wife refused to comment.
Vladimir Putin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, advised asking the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation about Surovikin's fate.

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