Norway asks 15 Russian intelligence officers to leave country

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – Norway on Thursday asked 15 Russian intelligence officers to leave the country.

"The 15 intelligence officers have been engaging in activities that are not compatible with their diplomatic status," Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said in a statement.

“The decision is in response to the changed security situation in Europe, which has led to an increased intelligence threat from Russia,” she added.

“This is an important step in countering, and reducing the level of, Russian intelligence activity in Norway, and thus in safeguarding our national interests,” Huitfeldt said in the statement issued by Foreign Ministry.

Underscoring that Norway aspires to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway, she said: “We want Russia to continue to have a functioning diplomatic mission in Norway, but we will not accept that diplomatic missions are misused for the purposes of carrying out covert intelligence activities.”

According to the ministry, the officers working under diplomatic cover in the country were under surveillance.

In line with the decision, the officers concerned are asked to leave Norway shortly, the ministry remarked, adding that visas will not be issued to intelligence officers seeking to come to Norway.