The reason behind the decision is explained by an increased threat of espionage from the Russian side, writes the authority. The diplomats, who worked at the embassy in Oslo, are described as intelligence officers.
– This is an important measure to counter and reduce the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway and thereby secure our national interests, says Anniken Huitfeldt in the press release.
“Secret intelligence operations”
The 15 intelligence officers, who were in Norway as diplomats, are asked to leave the country as soon as possible. Their activities must have been monitored by Norwegian authorities for a long time.
– I want to emphasize that Norway wants to have normal diplomatic relations with Russia and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway. What we are doing now is exclusively focused on unwanted intelligence activities, says Anniken Huitfeldt and continues:
– We want to preserve a functioning diplomatic representation but do not accept that it is misused for secret intelligence activities.
Russian Foreign Ministry: Will respond
Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says, according to the state news agency TASS, that it has taken note of the Norwegian decision and that it will take its own measures in response.
“The Russian Federation will give an appropriate response,” the authority writes in a comment.
