A senior Norwegian spy company officer mentioned Friday that “the intelligence threat from Russia is not gone, but significantly reduced” after Norway expelled 15 Russian diplomats on suspicion of spying.
“We are sure that they are intelligence officers,” mentioned Inger Haugland, head of the counterintelligence unit with the Norwegian Police Security Service, often called the PST. “We believe that the measure taken yesterday was a good and important measure.”
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt mentioned the diplomats have been suspected of spying whereas working on the Russian Embassy in Oslo.
Haugland mentioned many of the 15 diplomats have been working both as spy handlers or intercepting phone and information visitors. She mentioned they have been employed both by Russia’s civilian spy company, the FSB (Federal Security Service) or by the GRU, which runs army intelligence.
Haugland described them as “specialists” however declined to present additional particulars or say whether or not they had left the Scandinavian nation.
“Russian intelligence will continue to operate in Norway because Norway is important to Russia,” she mentioned.
Dag Røhjell, a senior officer with the PST, declined to remark particularly on how lengthy the Norwegian authorities had identified in regards to the alleged actions of the 15 diplomats, however pointed at two sectors of particular curiosity to Russia: protection and oil.
“It is about what Norway contributes to Ukrainian defense capability and energy supply to Europe,” Røhjell advised reporters. “We will contact businesses that we know the 15 intelligence officers have had contact with.”
Norway, a NATO member, has a 198 kilometer-long (123-mile) border with Russia within the Arctic.
In neighboring Sweden, an individual was arrested on the largest refinery firm within the nation on suspicion of company espionage, the prosecution authority mentioned Friday. Swedish media mentioned the suspect was a Russian lady. The case was shrouded in secrecy.
Dani Backteg, a spokesman for Preemraff, an oil refinery in Goteborg, western Sweden, advised The Associated Press that the particular person arrested Thursday afternoon, was “an employee of one of our subcontractors.” He referred to the police for additional remark.
Sweden‘s safety service additionally mentioned it was a police matter. Police gave no remark.
Preem is the most important oil refinery in Sweden, with two crops on the west coast. It accounts for 80% of the nation’s refinery capability.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
