Norway police to proceed interrogation of former Wagner commander Through Reuters

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Andrei Medvedev, a former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary team poses for an image all the way through an interview in Oslo, Norway February 1, 2023. REUTERS/Janis Laizans

Through Terje Solsvik and Gwladys Fouche

OSLO (Reuters) -Norwegian police stated on Friday they intend to proceed to interrogate former Wagner mercenary team commander Andrei Medvedev, who fled from Russia to Norway ultimate month after preventing within the struggle in Ukraine.

Medvedev, who previous this week informed Reuters he used to be talking out to lend a hand make sure the perpetrators of crimes are delivered to justice, has passed “some virtual subject matter” to police, Kripos, Norway’s nationwide legal police carrier, stated in a remark.

The fabric used to be being tested, added Kripos. Kripos is the unit of the Norwegian police which has duty for investigating struggle crimes.

Medvedev stays a witness, and isn’t underneath any legal responsibility to speak to investigators, Kripos stated. Medvedev isn’t suspected of anything else with the exception of the unlawful border crossing.

“Medvedev gives the look that he needs to proceed to mention extra” about his time with Wagner, police stated.

Safety preparations have additionally been made for Medvedev’s protection, “each seen and non-visible” measures, it added, with out giving specifics.

Wagner forces were locked in a bloody struggle of attrition in opposition to Ukrainian forces in Ukraine’s japanese Donetsk area.

All through the Reuters interview on Wednesday, Medvedev cited one incident by which he stated he witnessed two individuals who didn’t wish to struggle being shot useless in entrance of newly launched convicts who were enrolled in Wagner.

Requested about different incidents he witnessed, he stated he may no longer touch upon them at this level due the Norwegian police’s investigations.

Reuters used to be no longer instantly ready to ensure his assertions.

Wagner has stated Medvedev had labored in a “Norwegian unit” of Wagner and had “mistreated prisoners”.

“Watch out, he is very bad,” the gang stated in an emailed remark to Reuters on Thursday, reiterating earlier feedback made about Medvedev via Wagner’s founder Yevgeny Prigozhin, a detailed best friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin.