A court in Oslo convicted a 28-year-old Norwegian man of spying for Russia and Iran. The man, a former security guard at the US Embassy in Norway, received a three-year and seven-month prison sentence on Wednesday.
Prosecutors said he shared embassy floor plans, security procedures, and details about diplomats, according to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK. The man admitted to the indictment’s facts but denied criminal guilt.
NRK reported that US ties to Israel and the war in Gaza motivated him to contact Russian and Iranian officials. The case has drawn strong attention due to its international implications and timing amid regional tensions.
Defence Questions Definition of Espionage
The man’s defence attorneys released a statement on Thursday questioning how Norwegian law defines espionage.
“He lied about having security clearance and exaggerated his role,” said Inger Zadig of Elden Law Firm.
Zadig said the defendant held limited access, similar to that of a janitor, and claimed the shared information had no security value.
“Nothing he passed on could harm individuals or any state’s interests,” Zadig said.
The court found the man guilty on five espionage-related counts but cleared him of gross corruption. Prosecutor Carl Fredrik Fari said the state might appeal the sentence, having originally sought over six years in prison. Defence lawyers are also considering an appeal.
Espionage Cases Raise Security Concerns in Norway
Police arrested the man last November while he was studying security and preparedness at Norway’s Arctic University (UiT). NRK noted this was the second espionage case involving the university in recent years.
In 2022, Norwegian authorities arrested a UiT guest researcher who claimed to be a Brazilian named José Assis Giammaria. Investigators later identified him as Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin, a Russian national involved in espionage and later part of a West-Russia prisoner exchange.
Norway shares a 198-kilometre border with Russia in the Arctic. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Norway has tightened entry restrictions on Russian nationals. The government also announced plans to build a fence along parts of the border to strengthen national security.
