Oslo expels 15 Russian embassy employees. The reason: Because of their work, it was revealed that they were likely Secret Service employees.
The people accredited to the embassy in Oslo have been carrying out activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said Thursday, according to her ministry. “We don’t want to allow Russian intelligence officers to operate in Norway under diplomatic cover.”
Aggravated situation since the beginning of the war in Ukraine
The basis for the decision is the fact that the new security situation resulting from the war in Ukraine has led to an increased intelligence threat from Russia, according to Huitfeldt. “This is an important measure to counter and narrow the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway, thus protecting our national interests.” The diplomats must now leave Norway within a short time. Visa applications from intelligence officers would be rejected, it said. As early as April 2022, three officers of the Russian secret service had to leave Norway.
“Ordinary” diplomats are welcome
“I would like to underline that Norway wants normal diplomatic relations with Russia and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway,” Foreign Minister Huitfeldt said. “What we’re doing now is solely aimed at unwanted intelligence activities.”
Diplomatic relations since the war at an all time low
After the outbreak of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine, some countries – especially European ones – announced that they would reduce the number of Russian diplomatic missions. Moscow usually reacts to such moves with a backlash, declaring foreign diplomats persona non gratae.
Austria also affected
At the beginning of February, Austria had expelled four Russian diplomats because they too had “committed acts incompatible with their diplomatic status”. As a result, Moscow declared four Austrians undesirables. The head of the Austrian Cultural Forum in Moscow, two administrative-technical employees and a representative of the foreign trade center of the Economic Chamber, located at the embassy, were hit.
Source: Krone
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