Russian General Sergei Surovikin, one of the emblematic commanders of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, dismissed for his links with the Wagner mercenary group, reappeared in Algeria during an official visit after months of absence.
In images published on Tuesday on the official Facebook account of the Grand Mosque in Oran and released by Russian media on Friday, Surovikin appears in beige civilian clothes, next to Russian officers in military uniform and the imam of this mosque. .
“A high-level Russian delegation visited the Abdelhamid Ben Badis Grand Mosque and was received by the Director of Religious Affairs and the Imam of the Grand Mosque”highlighted this entity in a note accompanied by photos.
The purpose of Sourovikin’s visit to Algeria was not specified and Moscow has not issued any statement on the matter.
This Monday, the Eurasia Daily news agency reported that Serguei Surovikin had been appointed chairman of a military coordination commission of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Speculation about the fate of Sergei Surovikin has increased since his disappearance from public space following the failed uprising of the Wagner group in June.
According to various Russian media, this general was dismissed as Commander-in-Chief of the Aerospace Forces in August, two months after the Wagner mutiny, which he was close to but did not support.
During the 24-hour uprising of the Wagner group, which shook Russian power, Surovikin appealed to the mutineers to stop and return to their barracks “before it is too late.”
Still, the general was considered close to his leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died in a plane crash in August.
On August 23, the day Prigozhin’s private plane crashed, it was revealed that Surovikin had been replaced as head of the Aerospace Forces by General Victor Afzalov.
The Kremlin (Russian Presidency) never confirmed the general’s arrest due to his ties to the then head of the Wagner Group.
Surovikin was one of the main commanders of the Russian military intervention in Ukraine.
A veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan and the second Chechen war in the 2000s, Surovikin also took part in the brutal Russian campaign in Syria in 2015.
Source: DN
