After Wagner Group riot, Russia to allow creation of regional militias

Russia’s parliament has approved a law enabling regional governments to create local militias aimed at supporting security agencies in maintaining public order, which includes countering saboteurs, as reported by Russian state news agency Tass.

The decision comes in the wake of the Wagner Group incident, where the paramilitary organization caused unrest by taking control of a Russian city and planning to advance towards Moscow to question the Kremlin’s military command.

Under the new law, these regional militias will receive state funding and armament but will be restricted to operating solely during periods of military mobilization or martial law.

Their authorized responsibilities encompass shooting down drones, countering enemy sabotage groups, and conducting anti-terrorist operations.

The recent Wagner Group riots led to negotiations diverting the group’s march to the Belarusian territory, subsequently impacting Russia’s military efforts in the conflict with Ukraine.

In response to the incident, the Russian government opted to introduce the law allowing the establishment of regional militias, purportedly to bolster security measures in the face of potential threats.

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