A local MHA who has spent time working in Russia in the past says an attempted military coup over the weekend shows the level of instability in the country right now.

The Wagner mercenary group set its eyes on Moscow over the weekend, but as the government mobilized troops in response, the group stood down.

Lake Melville MHA Perry Trimper calls how the events played out “bizarre,” and leaves him to wonder how a mercenary, who is closely aligned with President Vladimir Putin, could be so powerful that they could stage the threat to Putin’s authority and military direction.

Trimper notes that the Wagner group involved some 25,000 troops and equipment.

He says to the supporters of Ukraine, it is an indication that there are “large factions” opposing Putin and his direction, as well as of how quickly such a statement against Putin can be made.

That said, he notes that the person who lead the uprising has “just as horrific and horrendous past” as Putin himself.

He notes that the man is wanted by the FBI for electoral interference in the United states, he is behind some “shady” companies. “Is the enemy of my enemy my friend?” asks Trimper. In this case, he says the answer is no, but it just goes to show the instability in Russia.