A court in Oslo convicted a 28-year-old former security guard of spying for Russia and Iran on Wednesday. The Norwegian man, whose name remains undisclosed, received a three-year and seven-month prison sentence for espionage.
Prosecutors said he passed sensitive details about the US Embassy’s diplomats, floor plans, and security routines, according to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK. He admitted the facts listed in the indictment but denied committing any crime.
NRK reported that the man’s anger over American ties to Israel and the war in Gaza motivated him to contact Russian and Iranian authorities. Prosecutors argued that his actions put embassy personnel and state interests at risk.
Defence Claims Information Was Worthless
In a Thursday statement, defence attorney Inger Zadig from the Elden Law Firm said the verdict raised concerns about Norway’s definition of espionage.
“He lied about having security clearance and exaggerated his position,” Zadig said. “He had access equal to a janitor at the embassy.”
The lawyer insisted the data he shared held no value and could not endanger anyone or any state. The court, however, found him guilty on five espionage-related charges while acquitting him of gross corruption.
His defence team is now considering an appeal, while prosecutor Carl Fredrik Fari announced that the state may also appeal, arguing the punishment was too lenient. Prosecutors had requested more than six years in prison.
Norway Tightens Security as Espionage Cases Rise
Police arrested the man last November while he was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in security and preparedness at Norway’s Arctic University (UiT). NRK noted that this marks the second espionage case linked to UiT in recent years.
In 2022, Norwegian authorities detained a UiT guest researcher posing as a Brazilian named José Assis Giammaria. He was later identified as a Russian agent, Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin, and was exchanged in a major West–Russia prisoner swap last year.
Norway shares a 198-kilometre border with Russia in the Arctic. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Norway has restricted entry for Russian nationals.
The Norwegian government also announced plans to construct a fence along parts of the Russian border, citing national security concerns and an increase in foreign intelligence threats.
