Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a decree requiring members of paramilitary forces to swear an oath to Russia, like soldiers in the regular army, two days after the alleged death of Wagner mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin, France-Presse and Agerpres reported.

According to this decree, published on the government’s website, they must swear “allegiance” and “loyalty” to Russia and “strictly follow the orders of commanders and superiors.”

They also undertake to “reverently respect the Constitution of Russia”, “honestly fulfill the tasks assigned to them” and “courageously defend the independence and constitutional system of the country”.

This decree refers to combatants who “contribute to the fulfillment of the tasks assigned to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation”, as well as other “military organizations and formations”, including territorial defense forces, formed during the conflict in Ukraine.

Although mercenaries are prohibited by law in Russia, the activities of “private military companies” that officially provide “security” services are tolerated, of which Wagner is the largest and best known.

The text was signed two months after Wagner’s mercenaries briefly attempted to march on Moscow in an uprising to oust Prigozhin’s defense rivals, an uprising that President Vladimir Putin condemned as a treasonous “stab in the back.”

Prigozhin is believed to have died after a plane carrying him from Moscow to St Petersburg crashed on Wednesday night, carrying his right-hand man Dmytro Utkin and other Wagner group officials.

The Kremlin said on Friday that the West’s suggestion that the leader of Wagner’s mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigozhin, was killed on his orders was an “absolute lie”.

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