A court in Oslo convicted a 28-year-old Norwegian man of spying for Russia and Iran. The former security guard at the US Embassy in Norway received a three-year and seven-month prison sentence.
The man admitted the facts in the indictment but denied committing any crime. Prosecutors said he passed along information about embassy diplomats, floor plans, and security routines, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
NRK reported that the man reached out to Russia and Iran because of US ties to Israel and the war in Gaza.
Defence Challenges Espionage Definition Under Norwegian Law
The man’s defence attorneys questioned what qualifies as espionage under Norwegian law.
“He lied about having security clearance and exaggerated his position,” said attorney Inger Zadig from Elden Law Firm.
Zadig argued that her client had “the same access as a janitor” and shared information of no real value. She added that the data “could not harm any person or the security of any state.”
The Oslo District Court found the man guilty of five espionage-related charges but acquitted him of gross corruption.
Defence lawyers said they are considering an appeal, while prosecutor Carl Fredrik Fari said his team may also appeal since the state sought a longer six-year sentence.
At the time of his arrest last November, the man was studying for a bachelor’s degree in security and preparedness at Norway’s Arctic University (UiT).
Espionage Cases Raise Tensions in Norway’s Arctic Border Region
This marks the second espionage-related case connected to UiT in recent years, according to NRK.
One of the individuals involved in a major prisoner swap with Russia last year was a UiT guest researcher who used the false identity José Assis Giammaria. Authorities later identified him as Russian national Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin, who had been arrested in 2022 for espionage.
Norway shares a 198-kilometre border with Russia in the Arctic. Since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Norway has restricted Russian entry and tightened border security.
Last year, the Norwegian government said it was considering building a fence along part or all of its Arctic border with Russia to prevent future security breaches.
