COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A senior Norwegian spy company officer mentioned Friday that ”the intelligence menace from Russia just isn’t gone, however considerably decreased” after Norway expelled 15 Russian diplomats on suspicion of spying.
“We’re certain that they’re intelligence officers,” mentioned Inger Haugland, head of the counterintelligence unit with the Norwegian Police Safety Service, often called the PST. “We consider that the measure taken yesterday was an excellent and essential measure.”
On Thursday, International 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 knowledge visitors. She mentioned they have been employed both by Russia’s civilian spy company, the FSB (Federal Safety Service) or by the GRU, which runs navy intelligence.
Haugland described them as “specialists” however declined to offer additional particulars or say whether or not they had left the Scandinavian nation.
“Russian intelligence will proceed to function in Norway as a result of Norway is essential 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’s about what Norway contributes to Ukrainian protection functionality and power provide to Europe,” Røhjell informed reporters. “We’ll contact companies that we all 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 girl. The case was shrouded in secrecy.
Dani Backteg, a spokesman for Preemraff, an oil refinery in Goteborg, western Sweden, informed The Related Press that the individual arrested Thursday afternoon, was “an worker of one in every 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 biggest oil refinery in Sweden, with two vegetation on the west coast. It accounts for 80% of the nation’s refinery capability.