Russia expels 10 Norwegian diplomats

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - In a tit-for-tat move, Russia on Wednesday declared 10 Norwegian diplomats and employees of the embassy’s military attache office persona non grata.

In a statement on its website, the Russian Foreign Ministry said the relevant diplomatic note was handed to Norway's Ambassador Robert Kvile, who was summoned for the occasion.

The diplomatic service stressed that a strong protest note was read out to Kvile over the earlier expulsion of 15 Russian diplomats and employees of the military attache office in the capital Oslo.

"This hostile step has further aggravated the situation in bilateral relations, which are already at a critically low level," it stressed.

The ambassador was also told that other measures would follow, including restrictions for hiring local personnel by Norwegian diplomatic missions.

On April 13, Norway expelled 15 Russian officials, accusing them of spying under diplomatic cover.

Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said that Norway will not allow Moscow to use its embassy to carry out "covert intelligence activities."

The action took place as the Russia-Ukraine war is in its 14th month, and with two out of the three large Scandinavian countries – Norway and Finland – now members of NATO, with Sweden trying to gain membership as well, which Russia has urged against.