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Lawyer says Norway’s charges against Russian businessman Yakunin ungrounded

According to the lawyer, Yakunin, who also holds a British passport, pleaded not guilty and "will prove he is innocent" during the coming court trial

LONDON, November 12. /TASS/. The charges brought by Norwegian prosecutors against Russian businessman Andrey Yakunin are not legally grounded, his lawyer Bernt Heiberg said in a statement seen by TASS on Saturday.

News came on Friday that Yakunin was accused of violating the law on sanctions banning Russians from using drones in Norway. The Russian businessman’s trial will take place on November 29.

"The charges brought against Andrey Yakunin are not legally grounded. He is accused of owning two drones and flying those in Svalbard (the Swedish name for Spitsbergen - TASS) as a Russian national. Norway never prosecuted anyone for his or her nationality before," Heiberg said.

According to the lawyer, Yakunin, who also holds a British passport, pleaded not guilty and "will prove he is innocent" during the coming court trial.

Yakunin was arrested in Norway’s Hammarfeasta on October 17 for photo and video shooting using a drone.

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