A former commander of Russia’s brutal Wagner Group who just lately fled to Norway has been arrested by police. Andrey Medvedev has been detained after what his lawyer, Brynjulf Risnes, mentioned was a “sturdy disagreement” between the previous Wagner soldier and authorities over residing circumstances on the secure home the place he had been residing since he arrived within the nation.

A Russian prisoners’ rights group, Gulagu.internet, revealed a recording of a cellphone interview on Monday with Medvedev, during which he urged Norway to let him keep and testify towards the personal navy group.

The Wagner Group has been concerned in a number of the key preventing in Ukraine – and are even tipped to rival Putin’s grip on the Kremlin as a consequence of their conflict successes in contrast with that of the Russian navy. Frictions stirred just lately when the group captured the strategically vital Soledar, just for the Russian Armed Forces to assert two days later that they’d taken it themselves.

UK officers estimate the Wagner Group makes up 10 % of Moscow’s forces in Ukraine.

26-year-old Medvedev is believed to be the primary member of the group to defect to the West.

Gulagu.internet claimed Medvedev had been advised he confronted deportation – however this was denied by Norwegian police.

Mr Risnes, put the chance of his being deported at “zero”, including he had been detained as a consequence of “disagreement” about measures taken to make sure his security.

He defined that Medvedev was staying on the secure home on a “voluntary foundation”, and if he refused to be there, police must both let him go or detain him.

The lawyer added to the BBC that the transfer got here after “police concluded his scenario was very harmful. That is what everybody needed to keep away from, however we’re searching for options.”

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Medvedev crossed the border into Norway on January 13, the place he utilized for asylum, claiming he had witnessed the abstract killing of Wagner fighters accused by their very own commanders of disobeying orders, generally in pairs.

He additionally mentioned he was prepared to inform the whole lot he knew concerning the Wagner Group, its actions and its notorious chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

Mr Prigozhin is tipped because the potential substitute for Vladimir Putin within the occasion of a coup towards the Russian despot, and is at the moment needed by the FBI for meddling within the 2016 US election.

Medvedev mentioned within the cellphone interview with Gulagu.internet, recorded immediately: “My objective in coming right here was firstly in fact to save lots of my life and secondly to inform the reality to the individuals and the world,” including that he needed to “punish” Prigozhin for the deaths of those that died on his orders in Ukraine.

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The previous soldier fears for his life if he’s returned to Russia. Gulagu.internet mentioned Medvedev would face “brutal homicide and demise” for talking out towards Wagner.

The rights group added: “We don’t whitewash Medvedev. He has carried out many dangerous issues in his life. However he has seen the sunshine, he has realized this, he’s prepared and prepared to cooperate with the world, with the worldwide investigation and with the authorities of Norway, he desires to reside and testify.”

Mr Risnes advised the BBC that it was “completely not true” that his shopper was going through deportation, however mentioned there could have been a misunderstanding between Mr Medvedev and Norwegian police.