© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Andrei Medvedev, a former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group poses for an image throughout an interview in Oslo, Norway February 1, 2023. REUTERS/Janis Laizans
By Terje Solsvik and Gwladys Fouche
OSLO (Reuters) -Norwegian police mentioned on Friday they intend to proceed to interrogate former Wagner mercenary group commander Andrei Medvedev, who fled from Russia to Norway final month after preventing within the conflict in Ukraine.
Medvedev, who earlier this week instructed Reuters he was talking out to assist make sure the perpetrators of crimes are delivered to justice, has handed “some digital materials” to police, Kripos, Norway’s nationwide legal police service, mentioned in an announcement.
The fabric was being examined, added Kripos. Kripos is the unit of the Norwegian police which has accountability for investigating conflict crimes.
Medvedev stays a witness, and isn’t beneath any obligation to speak to investigators, Kripos mentioned. Medvedev will not be suspected of something other than the unlawful border crossing.
“Medvedev gives the look that he desires to proceed to say extra” about his time with Wagner, police mentioned.
Safety preparations have additionally been made for Medvedev’s security, “each seen and non-visible” measures, it added, with out giving specifics.
Wagner forces have been locked in a bloody battle of attrition in opposition to Ukrainian forces in Ukraine’s japanese Donetsk area.
Through the Reuters interview on Wednesday, Medvedev cited one incident during which he mentioned he witnessed two individuals who didn’t need to struggle being shot lifeless in entrance of newly launched convicts who had been enrolled in Wagner.
Requested about different incidents he witnessed, he mentioned he couldn’t touch upon them at this stage due the Norwegian police’s investigations.
Reuters was not instantly in a position to confirm his assertions.
Wagner has mentioned Medvedev had labored in a “Norwegian unit” of Wagner and had “mistreated prisoners”.
“Watch out, he is very harmful,” the group mentioned in an emailed assertion to Reuters on Thursday, reiterating earlier feedback made about Medvedev by Wagner’s founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, a detailed ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
