Posted on 01/16/2023 12:49:10 PM PST by Timber Rattler
A former commander with the Russian paramilitary Wagner Group has claimed asylum in Norway after deserting from the mercenary outfit.
Andrey Medvedev, 26, crossed the border into Norway last Friday, where he was detained by border guards.
He is currently being held in the Oslo area where he faces charges of illegal entry to Norway, his lawyer Brynjulf Risnes told the BBC.
Mr Risnes said his client left Wagner after witnessing war crimes in Ukraine.
The Norwegian Border Guard confirmed to the BBC that a Russian man had been detailed after crossing the country's 198 kilometres (123 miles) long border with Russia, but said it could not comment further for "reasons of security and privacy".
(snip)
Gulagu's founder Vladimir Osechkin told the BBC that Mr Medvedev had joined the paramilitary group in July 2022 on a six-month contract, but had deserted after witnessing a host of human rights abuses and war crimes while serving in Ukraine.
He said that Mr Medvedev is a former soldier in the Russian army and that he later served time in prison before joining the Wagner Group. It is unclear whether he was recruited from jail as other prisoners were.
He was placed in charge of a Wagner division in Ukraine, where the mercenary group supplied him with around 30-40 troops every week, Mr Osechkin said.
In a video posted by Gulagu to its social media channels, Mr Medvedev said he fled Ukraine in November after being informed that the group intended to extend his contract indefinitely.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
But if they sending to a Norwegian prison he will be living a relatively comfortable life as long as he is locked up.
I read it as a more senior guy.
Based on the narrators southern accent I guess he is from Alabama or Georgia.
Based on the narrators southern accent I guess he is from Alabama or Georgia.
I thought you meant Prigozhin himself.
This is just a peon.
I thought you meant Prigozhin himself.
This is just a peon.
Since Wagnar is notorious for bragging about war crimes, it’s not really just a claim.
Wagner openly brags about its crimes. They even released a video recently of sledge hammering a supposed traitor without any sort of trial. It’s not propaganda when a former employee says what the employers openly do.
Do you deny this? As big as you are into Russian propaganda, you should be well aware of it. They even sell merchandise with images of them sledge hammering people.
there’s a sledge hammer out there wi the boi’s name on it...
Wagner’s boss, himself a former convict, is now bumping heads with the FSB and military leaders for fame and power. The other co-leader is an out and out Neo-Nazi with Swastikas all over his body, plus a hardcore criminal himself.
I have a feeling this defector will outlive that whole organization.
That is usual untrue
You’re in Wagner till your time is up
Either contract or death
They do execute deserters no question of that
They are hardly the only ones in that respect
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/05/world/europe/russia-pardon-prisoners-ukraine-wagner.html
prolly right
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