A Norwegian court in Oslo convicted a 28-year-old former security guard of spying for Russia and Iran. The court sentenced him to three years and seven months in prison for multiple espionage-related offenses.
Prosecutors said the man handed over information about US Embassy diplomats, building layouts, and security procedures, according to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK. They reported that his anger over US-Israel ties and the war in Gaza motivated him to contact Russian and Iranian officials.
The defendant admitted to the facts in the indictment but denied criminal intent. He insisted that his actions did not endanger national security or anyone’s safety.
Defence Questions Definition of Espionage
In a statement, defence lawyer Inger Zadig from Elden Law Firm said the verdict raised doubts about how Norway defines espionage.
“He lied about having security clearance and exaggerated his role,” Zadig said.
She argued that her client had minimal access, comparing his position to that of a janitor.
“The information he shared was worthless,” Zadig added. “It could not harm individuals or any nation’s security interests.”
The court found the man guilty on five espionage counts but cleared him of gross corruption. His defence team is considering an appeal. Meanwhile, prosecutor Carl Fredrik Fari said the state might appeal the sentence, as prosecutors had requested a six-year term.
Espionage Concerns Rise Amid Strained Russia-Norway Relations
Authorities arrested the man last November while he studied security and preparedness at Norway’s Arctic University (UiT). This is the second espionage case linked to UiT in recent years.
In 2022, police arrested a UiT guest researcher posing as a Brazilian academic named José Assis Giammaria. Investigators later identified him as Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin, a Russian intelligence operative. He was among those freed during a major prisoner swap between Western nations and Russia in 2023.
Norway shares a 198-kilometre Arctic border with Russia. Since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Oslo has tightened border controls and restricted entry for Russian citizens. The Norwegian government has also discussed building a barrier along parts of the frontier to strengthen national security.
