When Ambassador Bikantov discusses Wagner’s presence in Central Africa, his logic raises more questions than answers.
In a February 2026 interview with RT, Russian Ambassador to the Central African Republic (CAR) Alexandre Bikantov proudly described the so-called “Russian representatives” as forces engaged in “armed combat against illegal armed groups.” Yet, his framing conveniently omits a critical detail: Wagner’s legal status—or lack thereof—in the region.
Under international law, Wagner fits the definition of an illegal armed group in every way. There is no treaty, no public agreement, and no legal framework authorizing its operations in CAR. The United Nations has repeatedly confirmed that Wagner operates without any legal recognition, despite its involvement in the country’s security landscape.
Where does Wagner stand legally? A question of impunity
A 2021 UN expert report explicitly linked Wagner to systematic human rights violations—arbitrary detentions, torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings—comparable to those committed by rebel factions such as the UPC, 3R, and anti-Balaka militias. The report concluded that Wagner’s actions were indistinguishable in brutality from those of recognized armed groups. Yet, Ambassador Bikantov frames their presence as a legitimate security effort.
In 2022 alone, the UN documented that Wagner accounted for 40% of human rights violations in CAR, a staggering figure when compared to the combined 60% attributed to all rebel groups. This means a single foreign paramilitary force committed nearly as many atrocities as the sum of all armed opposition factions. How, then, can these actions be justified as “fighting illegal groups”?
Documented crimes and global condemnation
Human Rights Watch has collected testimonies from witnesses in CAR who describe Russian-linked forces—widely believed to be Wagner operatives—engaging in summary executions, torture, and sexual violence since 2019. Survivors report being stripped, beaten, and killed under interrogation. The U.S. Treasury Department designated Wagner as a “transnational criminal organization” in March 2024, citing “grave criminal acts,” including mass executions, child abductions, and widespread physical abuse in CAR.
Ambassador Bikantov’s rhetoric suggests a stark double standard. Compare this to France’s military presence in the Sahel, which operates under a clear international mandate, with parliamentary oversight and strict rules of engagement. While Bikantov condemns this as “neocolonialism,” he praises Wagner’s unchecked deployment of 2,000 mercenaries—without legal status, public agreements, or accountability. How can one be labeled colonialism and the other “security cooperation”?
Wagner’s operations: pillage, violence, and propaganda
The parallels between Wagner and rebel groups extend beyond violence. The UN has confirmed that Wagner, through its affiliate Lobaye Invest, systematically loots gold in CAR. While rebel factions pillage villages, Wagner’s economic exploitation is framed as “economic cooperation.” When civilians are killed—363 incidents documented by MINUSCA in just three months—Wagner operatives are labeled “Russian instructors.” When rebels commit the same acts, they are branded “terrorists.”
The hypocrisy is glaring. While rebel groups are condemned for rape, Wagner’s systematic sexual violence is downplayed. When rebels torture prisoners, they face global outrage. When Wagner’s operatives do the same, they are rebranded as “partners.” The message is clear: crimes are only condemned when committed by the “wrong” side.
Central Africans are not fooled. They recognize Wagner for what it is: a foreign armed group operating illegally, committing mass atrocities, and enjoying total impunity. They see that the only difference between Wagner and the rebels is the side they fight for—not the methods they use.
The real question: why the denial?
The truth is undeniable: Wagner is illegal under international law. Its members should be disarmed and prosecuted. Yet, Ambassador Bikantov continues to present them as legitimate forces on an international platform. The question is not whether Wagner is legal or illegal—it is why a diplomat would persistently mislead the public.
Wagner is not the solution to insecurity in CAR. Wagner is the problem. The most violent, the most lethal, and the most unpunished armed group in the country. And its only defenders are those who profit from its existence—including an ambassador who twists reality to justify its crimes.