OSLO, Norway- In a recent development, the Norwegian police have taken into custody a former commander of the notorious Wagner mercenary group, Andrei Medvedev. This apprehension follows suspicions that Medvedev attempted an unlawful border crossing into Russia after having sought asylum in Norway earlier this year. This revelation was conveyed by Medvedev’s legal representative, Brynjulf Risnes, on Saturday.
The dramatic circumstances surrounding Medvedev’s escape from Russia in January have garnered significant attention. He recounted a perilous journey through the Arctic border with Norway, during which he claimed to have fled while Russian guards opened fire on him. Medvedev has also openly discussed his involvement in combat operations in Ukraine as part of the Wagner group.
In an official statement released late on Friday, local police in Finnmark confirmed the arrest of an individual in his twenties for attempting an unauthorized entry into Russian territory. However, the identity of the arrested individual was not disclosed by the authorities, and an officer from Finnmark local police declined to divulge further details.
Medvedev’s legal counsel, Brynjulf Risnes, contended that the arrest was the result of a misunderstanding. Risnes asserted that Medvedev’s presence near the border was purely to locate the exact point at which he had crossed into Norway in January. According to Risnes, Medvedev was intercepted while traveling in a taxi and had never ventured close to the actual border. Risnes emphasized that it had never been Medvedev’s intention to breach the Russian border.
This incident raises questions surrounding Medvedev’s asylum status in Norway and the complexities of his past involvement with the Wagner group, as the legal proceedings unfold.
By Reuters
