Former Wagner Group fighter seeks asylum in Norway
Al JazeeraNov 25, 2022
The Facts
Andrei Medvedev, a former commander for Russian private military contractor Wagner Group who defected to Norway, was detained by Norwegian authorities on Sunday and taken to a detention center. However, his lawyer said his chances of being deported are "zero."
Medvedev, who was previously held in a safe house after crossing the Russia-Norway border two weeks ago seeking asylum, is now being held under the Immigration Act. The move comes after "police concluded his situation was very dangerous," according to his lawyer.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
By his own account, Medvedev is now seeking asylum after witnessing the Wagner Group's terroristic methods. Medvedev is one of many young Russians who were forced into the military at 18 years old. What makes him different, and hopefully deserving of asylum, is that he refused to commit the atrocities ordered by his superiors.
Establishment-critical narrative
Atrocities are certainly being committed by Russia, but the mainstream media has actively suppressed any similar tactics used by the other side. In Ukraine, several opposition politicians and human rights advocates accused of being "pro-Russian" appear to have been kidnapped, tortured, or mysteriously found dead. If the West cares about global human rights, both sides must be investigated and held to account.
