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CRIME

Wagner military group defector in Norway released by police

Norwegian police said Wednesday they had released a man claiming to be a former member of Russian mercenary group Wagner, who fled to Norway nearly a fortnight ago.

Published: 25 January 2023 14:54 CET
Pictured is the Norwegian border with Russia.
File photo: A general view of the Norwegian border crossing station at Storskog Photo by Jonathan Nackstrand / AFP

Andrei Medvedev, 26, crossed the Russian-Norwegian border in the country’s far north in the early hours of January 13th and sought asylum in the Scandinavian country.

He was arrested on Sunday for refusing to follow restrictions imposed by police since his arrival in the country, according to his lawyer.

On Wednesday, immigration police released Medvedev from the Trandum immigration detention centre “on condition that he stays in a specific place,” Jon Andreas Johansen, a police official in charge of immigration affairs, told AFP in an email.

Medvedev claims to have fought in Ukraine as a member of Wagner for four months before deserting in November, when the paramilitary organisation led by businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin allegedly extended his contract against his will.

A potentially valuable witness in shedding light on the group’s reported brutality in Ukraine, Medvedev — who claims to have witnessed executions of other members for refusing to fight — has been questioned by Norwegian authorities since arriving in the country.

Many questions remain about Medvedev’s past and the circumstances of his escape, with some experts saying he could not have crossed the heavily guarded border without assistance.

He claims to have crossed the frozen Pasvik river that marks part of the Russian-Norwegian border while being chased by attack dogs and Russian
border guards, who fired at him. AFP has not been able to independently confirm his account of events.

Since his arrival in Norway, Medvedev has been interviewed as a “witness” by Norway’s Criminal Investigation Service (Kripos), which is part of the international investigation into war crimes in Ukraine.

“He said earlier that he had been a member of the Wagner group, and it is interesting for Kripos to gather more information about this period,” the organisation said. Both police and his lawyer have ruled out deportation to Russia.

In an interview with the rights group Gulagu.net, the ex-mercenary said this week that he feared for his life if he were to be sent back to his country.

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POLITICS

Norway uncovers Russian agents amid sabotage concerns

The Norwegian intelligence service, PST, has revealed the presence of multiple Russian agents operating in western Norway.

Published: 3 May 2024 10:43 CEST
Norway uncovers Russian agents amid sabotage concerns

Torgils Lutro, head of PST Vest, disclosed in an interview with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) that these agents may have been preparing for acts of sabotage.

NRK noted that potential targets could have included Haakonsvern, northern Europe’s largest naval base, as well as crucial oil, gas, and power facilities in the region.

Lutro said that Russian agents were focused on gathering intelligence on critical infrastructure, military installations, and Norwegian preparedness routines.

While the exact number of exposed agents remains undisclosed, the PST has previously warned about the risks posed by Russian espionage and that espionage activity has heightened since Russia invaded Ukraine.

“In Vestland (County), we have strongly suspected, but have also uncovered, hostile and unwanted Russian intelligence activities since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022,” Lutro said.

Russia’s motives

The PST Vest chief suggested that Russia aimed to tarnish Norway’s reputation among its allies.

“It’s evident that one of Russia’s objectives is to portray us in a negative light. They seek to demonstrate that we lack control over our own affairs or that we’re unable to support our allies during future crises,” he said.

Following the war in Ukraine, Norwegian authorities have expelled over 15 people from the Russian embassy in Norway over suspected espionage.

This has prompted Russia to reassess its intelligence personnel and resources, according to the PST.

“Identifying these agents isn’t straightforward. They blend into society, which is part of their job. They may not even hold Russian citizenship, but are motivated by factors like money or threats,” Lutro said.

The PST has consistently highlighted Russian intelligence activities as a growing threat to Norway’s security in its annual threat assessments, including the most recent one in 2024.

“We’ve employed various methods to uncover these activities, and in some instances, we have a clear understanding of how they operate,” Lutro said.

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