Media find data on Chechen special fighters' penetration into Norway

The publications of the "Kadyrov's Flying Squad" in social networks indicate that since 2016, they have been performing their professional mission in Spitsbergen (Svalbard in Norwegian).

The "Novaya Gazeta" has presented screenshots of publications by Chechen commandos (special fighters), who call themselves the "Kadyrov's Flying Squad". "Fighters have clearly been to Svalbard repeatedly, with weapons in their hands; and they don't hide it," the paper's article says.

Thus, the user akhaev_07_95 posted a photo with the hashtag @ruspetsnaz – of the Russian Special Forces University, which is located in Gudermes and is personally patronized by the head of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov.

Spitsbergen is a demilitarized zone; and it is impossible to legally bring weapons there, the newspaper notes. Besides, Chechen special troops are part of the structure of the "Rosgvardia" (Russian National Guard), whose employees are forbidden to visit NATO countries – and, hence, the Norwegian Svalbard – even for tourist purposes.

Earlier, the Norwegian edition named AldriMer reported, with reference to its sources, the presence of Russian special fighters in Svalbard. Dressed in civilian clothes, they also landed on the mainland of Norway for reconnaissance, said the edition. The Russian Embassy in Norway has called this information "a fake."