“Wagner Defector Andrej Medvedev Wants to Return to Russia Despite Dangers”

Medvedev arrived in Norway on the night of Friday 13 January. He was then arrested in Pasvik in Finnmark, suspected of having crossed the Norwegian-Russian border illegally. Medvedev then told the Norwegian authorities that he had defected from the notorious Wagner mercenary group.

Medvedev says he wants to go back, even though it could be dangerous for him in Russia.

Andrej Medvedev, who has previously spoken about the time spent fighting in Ukraine, said in one of several videos posted on YouTube that he himself had decided that he wanted to return to his homeland.

Contacted the embassy

The 26-year-old says in a video that he feels like “a kind of boy in a big game” and he no longer wants to be part of it.

– Recently I have decided that I am ready to return to the Russian Federation. I have contacted the Russian embassy in Oslo to get help, says Medvedev in one of five short videos. He added that this was a decision he had made on his own.

Medvedev has said that he was chased by Russian border guards when he crossed the border into Norway.

– I jumped over two fences, I walked through a small forest, went out to the edge of a river. I walked on the ice and was chased by Russian border guards. They released a dog, but it got stuck in barbed wire. I heard two shots, turned quickly and got over the ice and got over to the Norwegian side, on the Norwegian shore, Medvedev told NRK at the end of January.

Couldn’t find the calm

The story made headlines around the world as a rare example of someone defecting to a Western country after claiming to have fought for the Wagner mercenary group in Ukraine.

Wagner defector arrested in Sweden

At the time, Medvedev said he sought asylum in Norway because he feared for his life after witnessing the killing and abuse of Russian prisoners recruited by the mercenary group to fight in Ukraine.

In a video published on Wednesday, May 17, Medvedev said he would submit documents “tomorrow.” Documents that he believes can help facilitate his return to Russia.

– I hoped that I could find peace and quiet here, that I could leave all the politics, the war, the army behind, but somehow I couldn’t do it, says Medvedev in Russian.

In April, Medvedev was sentenced to 14 days in suspended prison for disorderly conduct and for carrying an air pistol in a public place. He was charged with violence against a public servant, but was acquitted of this.

– We will see what will happen in Russia. If they kill me, fine. If they don’t, thank you very much. If I live, even more thanks.

Reuters reports that they have not been able to reach Medvedev by phone.