Ex-Wagner commander witnessed comrades shot for fleeing, says his Norwegian lawyer By Reuters


© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Cadets of a army academy fireplace a salute throughout the funeral of Dmitry Menshikov, a mercenary for the non-public Russian army firm Wagner Group, killed throughout the army battle in Ukraine, within the Alley of Heroes at a cemetery in Saint

By Ilze Filks

OSLO (Reuters) – A former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group who fled to Norway has spoken about how he witnessed a few of his comrades being shot as they had been attempting to flee from the frontline in Ukraine, his Norwegian lawyer informed Reuters.

Andrei Medvedev, who fled from Russia by crossing the Russian-Norwegian border on Jan. 13, has stated he fears for his life after witnessing what he stated was the killing and mistreatment of Russian prisoners taken to Ukraine to struggle for Wagner.

Medvedev resides in a secret location within the Oslo space after he was launched from detention on Wednesday following a “disagreement” with the police about measures taken to make sure his security.

His lawyer Brynjulf Risnes informed Reuters that Medvedev had seen some “extremely horrible” conditions whereas he was combating with Wagner final autumn.

He had witnessed “the taking pictures of his comrades whereas he was watching as a result of they tried to flee,” Risnes stated in an interview, citing Medvedev.

    The Russian was “slowly coming to phrases with what’s taking place”, his lawyer stated.

“His life has been chaotic and harmful and really anxious for a really very long time,” Risnes stated, “notably, after all, throughout the autumn when he was in Ukraine with the Wagner group.”

“However after all, his life hasn’t been simple earlier than that both.”

Hundreds of Ukrainian civilians have been killed, hundreds of thousands uprooted and cities decreased to rubble since Russian forces invaded Ukraine 11 months in the past.

Kripos, Norway’s nationwide prison police service, which has accountability for investigating battle crimes, has begun questioning him about his experiences in Ukraine and would proceed to take action, Risnes stated.

Kripos is a part of a challenge to research battle crimes in Ukraine performed by the Worldwide Legal Court docket.

Different teams just like the Norwegian Helsinki Committee and the Clooney Basis had been additionally keen on speaking to Medvedev, his lawyer stated.

“One fundamental factor might be to coordinate so we do not have to ask all of the questions 5 or ten occasions,” Risnes stated.

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