(Oslo) A former mercenary from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner who fled to Norway about ten days ago has been arrested by Norwegian police under immigration law, police said on Monday.
The exact reasons for this arrest have not been specified, but, according to his lawyer, it is due “to breaches of the security rules” surrounding him.
GULAGU.NET PHOTO, VIA REUTERS
Andrei Medvedev
Andrei Medvedev, 26, had crossed the Russian-Norwegian border in the Far North on the night of January 12 to 13 and requested asylum in the Scandinavian country, saying he was ready, according to his lawyer, to “talk about his experience within the Wagner group to the people who investigate war crimes.
The man says he fought in Ukraine in Wagner’s uniform for four months before deserting in November when the paramilitary organization led by businessman Yevgeny Prigojine, he says, extended his contract against his will.
Acting as a potentially valuable witness to shed light on the brutality of the paramilitary group in Ukraine, he has been put on the grill by the Norwegian authorities since his arrival in the country, in a secret location and placed under high protection.
“The person concerned has been arrested under the immigration law and we are considering his internment,” said Jon Andreas Johansen, a police officer in charge of immigration matters, in an email to AFP.
Police would not specify the exact reasons for his arrest or provide further comment.
His lawyer, Brynjulf Risnes, told AFP that Mr. Medvedev had been arrested because of his refusal to comply with all the security rules put in place around him.
“He thinks it’s a lot and it doesn’t have to be,” he explained. “There are naturally a lot of security measures that have been taken and he finds it difficult to comply with them”.
“He is not accused of anything,” he said.
Many question marks remain on the personality of Andrei Medvedev, his career and the circumstances of his escape. Many experts believe that the ex-mercenary could not cross the heavily guarded border without assistance.
He himself claims to have crossed clandestinely on foot the Pasvik, the currently frozen river which marks the Russian-Norwegian border, under the bullets of Russian guards launched on his heels with dogs.
The criminal brigade (Kripos) of the Norwegian police, which is involved in the international investigation into war crimes in Ukraine, began questioning him last Saturday.
He is cooperative, according to Mr. Risnes.
AFP has not been able to independently confirm the veracity of his comments.
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