Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says the leader of Russian private military firm Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, is back in Russia.

The Belarusian president last month said the mercenary leader was in Belarus.

Belarus presidential office stated Lukashenko spoke to reporters on Thursday.

He reportedly said Prigozhin is in St. Petersburg or may have moved to Moscow or somewhere else, but he is now not in Belarus.

Lukashenko added that Wagner fighters are staying at their permanent camps, without mentioning their location.

The Belarusian president is said to have brokered a deal between the administration of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prigozhin after the mercenary leader attempted a mutiny against Moscow on June 24.

Lukashenko announced three days later that Prigozhin was in Belarus, and his country is willing to accept Wagner troops.