🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
The son of a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has been detained in Norway for allegedly possessing and flying a drone in Norwegian airspace.
The man charged is Andrey Yakunin, son of former president of Russian Railways and Putin associate Vladimir Yakunin, according to The Barents Observer.
Yakunin, 47, allegedly flew the drone while on a boat that has sailed around Svalbard, circumnavigating the coast of Norway, for months.
A Norwegian judge on Tuesday ordered that Yakunin, who has Russian and British citizenship, be placed in custody for two weeks at police request while an investigation continues. Detention was recommended by police due to the risk of evasion.
Prosecutor Anja Mikkelsen Indbjør told The Barents Observer that when Yakunin was arrested on October 17 in Hammerfest, police allegedly seized drones and electronic devices. A Russian passport was also reportedly seized on the boat.
"The content [recordings] from the drone is of great importance for the case," Mikkelsen said.
Yakunin reportedly said in his court appearance that he has a home address in Italy and should be regarded as a British citizen.
His attorney, Jens Bernhard Herstad, reportedly said that his client came aboard the boat last week.
"He admitted flying a drone but had no reason to believe this was illegal," Herstad said. "He is a British citizen. The court order will be appealed."
On February 28, four days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) of Norway banned drone flights "by any Russian natural or legal person in Norwegian airspace."
"As a consequence of the restrictions, aircraft that the restrictions apply for, are not permitted to fly over Svalbard, Jan Mayen and the Norwegian mainland," the CAA said. "The restricted area also includes the airspace over the Norwegian territorial waters (the sea area from the Norwegian baseline and 12 nautical miles)."
High North News reported that four Russians who had driven to Norway from Finland were arrested October 11 for allegedly photographing an object subject to a photo ban.
The same day, a Russian man was arrested at the Storskog border crossing for allegedly possessing two drones and "partially encrypted image material on storage devices." He was charged with breaking sanctions laws and the flight ban.
On October 14, a Russian man was detained after allegedly possessing a drone, other camera equipment and a memory card. He was charged with breaching sanctions laws.
The Russian Embassy in Norway has repeatedly criticized Norwegian officials for the arrests, referring to them on Facebook as "psychosis that is unfolding in Norway."
"Ordinary tourists are suffering, tourists who have openly brought equipment to Norway, and again openly filmed the beautiful Norwegian nature without hiding their purpose of travel, not particularly 'spy-like,'" the Monday post reads.
The embassy also said that drones are not mentioned in CCA Norway policy, though the word is mentioned in the February 28 notice.
"It is very difficult for a foreigner to find the notice from the Civil Aviation Authority of Norway and the regulation mentioned in the media," the embassy wrote. "The unfounded and discriminatory nature of this measure is also causing concern."
In early October, Norwegian officials were reportedly discussing the closing of its border with Russia on an "hour-to-hour" basis.
About the writer
Nick Mordowanec is a Newsweek investigative reporter based in Michigan. His focus includes U.S. and international politics and policies, immigration, ... Read more