A Norwegian court in Oslo convicted a 28-year-old former US Embassy security guard of espionage on Wednesday. Judges ruled that he spied for Russia and Iran and sentenced him to three years and seven months in prison.
Prosecutors said he shared confidential embassy information, including floor plans, security procedures, and details about diplomats, with foreign agents, according to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.
The man, whose name remains undisclosed, admitted to the facts in the indictment but denied committing a crime. NRK reported that his decision to contact Russian and Iranian intelligence stemmed from frustration over US ties to Israel and the war in Gaza.
Defence Lawyers Challenge Definition of Espionage
The man’s defence attorneys argued that the court misinterpreted Norwegian espionage law. They said their client exaggerated his access to confidential information and lied about his security clearance when speaking with foreign contacts.
“He had roughly the same level of access as a janitor,” said attorney Inger Zadig from the Elden Law Firm.
“The information he shared was worthless and could not harm any country or individual.”
The court found him guilty on five espionage-related charges but acquitted him of gross corruption. His lawyers said they are considering an appeal, while prosecutor Carl Fredrik Fari announced that the state may appeal for a longer sentence, noting that prosecutors originally sought more than six years in prison.
Espionage Concerns Grow Along Norway’s Border with Russia
Police arrested the man last November while he was studying security and preparedness at UiT, The Arctic University of Norway. NRK noted that this is the second espionage case linked to UiT in recent years.
One previous case involved a Russian national, Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin, who posed as Brazilian researcher José Assis Giammaria. He was arrested in 2022 and later included in a major prisoner exchange between Russia and Western countries.
Norway, which shares a 198-kilometre border with Russia, has tightened security and entry restrictions since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Norwegian government also said last year that it may build a border fence to strengthen surveillance and prevent illegal crossings in the Arctic region.
