From . – 01.25.2023 16:01 (act. 01.25.2023 16:01)
A mercenary of the Russian Wagner group, Andrei Medvedev, has been released from custody by the Norwegian police. © Uta TOCHTERMANN / Gulagu.net / AFP
In Norway, a fugitive mercenary from the Russian group Wagner was released after being arrested.
Andrei Medvedev was due to be released from a detention center on Wednesday on condition that he remain in a specific location. The announcement was made by the police immigration unit. You can no longer detain him under immigration law.
Norwegian police free ex-Wagner mercenary
Medvedev was arrested on Sunday night. He was reportedly a member of the Wagner group for months in 2022 before fleeing to Norway and applying for asylum. Norway borders Russia in the far north, where Medvedev crossed the border nearly two weeks ago, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Wagner Group is owned by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin
The Wagner Group is owned by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, also known as “Putin’s cook” because of his good relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prigozhin recruited thousands of prisoners for the war against Ukraine from Russian prisons. He promised prisoners that they would be released after their contract expired, but at the same time threatened summary executions if they tried to escape.
Mercenary Medvedev feared he would be brutally killed
In a video posted on Gulagu.net, Medvedev expressed fears that he would be brutally killed if sent back to Russia. However, the Norwegian authorities have not yet stated that they intend to do so.