Norway expels 15 employees of the Russian secret service. According to Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, the people accredited to the embassy in Oslo have carried out activities that are incompatible with their diplomatic status.
“We do not want to allow Russian intelligence officers to operate in Norway under diplomatic cover.” The basis for the decision is the fact that the new security situation as a result of the Ukraine war has led to an increased intelligence threat from Russia.
“This is an important measure to counteract and reduce the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway and thus protect our national interests,” Huitfeldt said. The diplomats would now have to leave Norway within a short time. Visa applications from intelligence officers would be rejected, it said. Already in April 2022 three Russian secret service officers had to leave Norway.
“I would like to underline that Norway wants normal diplomatic relations with Russia and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway,” said Foreign Minister Huitfeldt, according to the statement. “What we are doing now is aimed exclusively at countering undesired secret service activities.”
