Just over a week ago, former Wagner commander Andrej Medvedev was arrested in Sweden after leaving Norway. Despite stating that he fears for his life, cheap cigarettes are said to have lured him across the border. – It is clearly a contradiction, says lawyer Brynjulf Risnes. In January, the former commander of a department in the Wagner Group, Andrej Medvedev, fled Russia to Norway to escape the death penalty. Just over a week ago, he crossed the Norwegian-Swedish border by bus in search of cheap cigarettes, according to Brynjulf Risnes, Andrej Medvedev’s lawyer. – It was like a tourist trip. There has been talk of cigarettes, but that was probably not the only thing he was thinking of buying. But he has said that he had no other motive than to shop, says the lawyer. The 26-year-old, who allegedly missed the bus home, was arrested by Swedish police as he walked along the road. Question marks surrounding the man’s information He now wishes to come to Norway as soon as possible and regrets what he has done. The Norwegian national criminal police, Kripos, and the UN investigative committee are showing interest in the Russian’s stories, says Risnes. But there have also been some question marks surrounding information he provided during interrogations in Norway. Much of what Medvedev has told about the war is difficult or impossible to verify in this situation. It is also questioned whether the 26-year-old could have become a commander within Wagner in a short time and with relatively little military experience, writes TT. “Clearly a contradiction” The man has stated that he fears for his life, is it then reasonable to move the way he does? – No, I completely agree with you that it is not. It is clearly a contradiction. But he is impulsive and can make decisions that are not very wise, says Risnes. The police have confirmed that Medvedev will be brought back to Norway. He is not suspected of any crime. Watch the interview with the lawyer in the player above.
t4-general
The lawyer questions the cigarette tour: “It’s clearly a contradiction”
