Norway decides to expel 15 Russian diplomats accused of espionage
Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said in a statement that the decision was “an important measure to reduce and combat the sphere of influence of Russian intelligence activities in Norway, thus ensuring national interests.”
Emphasizing that the 15 Russian diplomats who were declared “persona non grata” must leave the country as soon as possible, Huitfeldt said: “We will not grant visas to intelligence officers who apply for a visa to Norway.” saying.
Huitfeldt did not elaborate on whether the government made the decision based on a specific fact, saying the country’s Internal Intelligence Service, PST, would make the necessary statements on the matter.
While it was claimed that the activities of the expelled diplomats were “incompatible with their diplomatic status”, Huitfeldt said: “We are not talking about ordinary diplomats, but about intelligence officers operating under a diplomatic guise.” he used the phrase.
The Norwegian newspaper VG wrote that the number of expelled Russian diplomats was “so many at once”.
The newspaper said that about 40 people work at the Russian embassy in Oslo and at the consulates in Kirkenes and Barentsburg, including the deported diplomats.
EXPLANATION OF THE “REVENGE” OF RUSSIA
The Russian embassy in Norway, for its part, described the decision as an “extremely hostile step” and announced that there would be “retaliation” against it.
Minister Huitfeldt, in reaction to the retaliatory statements, said: “Russia has no reason to respond. We have Norwegian diplomats in Russia, but none of them are intelligence officers.” saying.
Stating that his country wants to establish normal diplomatic relations with Russia, Huitfeldt said: “We don’t want people who claim to be diplomats and are actually intelligence officers.” he used the phrase.
Norway expelled three Russian diplomats last year for allegedly being intelligence officers.
Norway, a NATO member, has a 198-kilometre border with Russia at the North Pole. (AA)