The former commander of the Wagner group, who crossed the Norwegian border in January and wanted to claim asylum, has decided to return to Russia, writes Reuters.
Andrey Medvedev has announced that despite the potential threat to his life, he wants to return to Russia. The 26-year-old has said he feels like a “boy in a big game” and he no longer wants to be a part of it.
“I’ve decided that I’m ready to go back to the Russian Federation.
I’ve contacted the Russian embassy in Oslo for help, to facilitate my return,”
Medvedev said, adding that he made the decision independently.
Medvedev arrived in Norway after crossing the border into the Arctic territory in January. His story quickly made headlines around the world as he was one of the very few Wagner group fighters to have fought in Ukraine and sought refuge in a Western country.
In the winter, the former Wagnerian said he sought asylum in Norway because he feared for his life after witnessing the killing and torture of inmates who had been recruited to fight for Wagner’s group.
In the video published on Wednesday, the 17th of May, Medvedev stated that he had hoped to leave his experience behind and gain peace, but he failed to do so. He added that he would be grateful if Russia would spare his life.
In April, Medvedev received a sentence for getting into a fight in a bar in Oslo, as well as for carrying an air gun. At the time, he told Reuters he was looking to the future, learning Norwegian, and hoping to get asylum.
Read also: Former commander of the Wagner group requests asylum in Norway