Norway accused Russian diplomats of espionage and using their diplomatic status as a cover for espionage and expelled them. The Russian embassy responded to the deportation, calling it “a very unfriendly step.” Russia has also said it will take “steps”, which are expected to be the expulsion of any Norwegian official in Russia
Norway has expelled 15 Russian diplomats accused of espionage and using their diplomatic status as a cover for their espionage activities. The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Anniken Heitfeldt, stated that Norway will not allow the Kremlin access to its embassy in Oslo to engage in “covert intelligence activities”. Heitfeld added that the 15 diplomats and staff are now considered ‘undesirable personalities’ and “must leave Norway shortly. Norway will not grant permits to intelligence officers who request visas to Norway.”
The Russian embassy responded to the deportation, calling it “a very unfriendly step.” Russia has also said it will take “steps”, which are expected to be the expulsion of any Norwegian official in Russia.
Norwegian authorities closely monitored the people’s movements for some time before deporting them, according to a government statement. Norway has said that Russia is the “biggest intelligence threat” to the country, a threat that is increasing against the backdrop of the instability of Europe’s “deteriorating security situation”.
Norway aligned with the European bloc and imposed European sanctions against Russia for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The Russian embassy in Oslo told the Reuters news agency that Norway’s decision is “another particularly unfriendly step, and Norway will show a reaction.”
About 40 Russian diplomats are currently stationed in Oslo, so the expulsion reaches more than a third of their number. So far this year, Estonia, the Netherlands and Austria have also expelled Russian diplomats. Norway also expelled three Russian diplomats in April 2022. Norway, a member of the NATO military alliance, shares a border with Russia in the Arctic region.