Norway has expelled a Russian diplomat after the recent arrest of a Norwegian national believe to be conducting espionage operations on behalf of the Kremlin.
The spy has been arraigned before an Oslo District Court on Monday, August 17, and ordered the Indian-born Norwegian national to be placed in pretrial detention for four weeks.
The man – in his 50s – was arrested by the Norwegian Security Service PST on Saturday while meeting a Russian intelligence officer at a restaurant in the Norwegian capital.
“We have informed the Russian ambassador that an employee at the Russian embassy is no longer wanted as a diplomat and asked to leave Norway,” a Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokesperson said in a written statement.
The diplomat had engaged in activities that were “not compatible with his role and status as a diplomat” and asked to leave Norway before the end of the week, the spokesperson added.
Norway has not named the Russian diplomat in question.
The Norwegian national was employed by DNV GL, a classification society that advises the maritime, oil and gas industries.
During questioning, the man was reported to have admitted to passing on information and receiving money from the Russian diplomat. (dpa/NAN)
