Authorities in Norway claim to have detained a university lecturer who was allegedly a spy for Russia.
The man, who is believed to be in his 30s, was detained by Oslo’s internal security agency, the PST, on his way to work after being classified as a “threat to core national interests.” He was alleged to have pretended to be an academic from Brazil, although Russian authorities claim otherwise.
The Moscow embassy in Oslo told the local media that it didn’t know who the man was.
According to Norwegian authorities, the individual has been a researcher at the University of Tromso in the country’s north since 2021. His attorney told the local media that he disputes the charges.
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However, Hedvig Moe, the deputy head of the PST, told reporters that there was fear within the team that the guy “may have gained a network and information about Norway’s policies” in the region’s north.
Even if this doesn’t pose a threat to the kingdom’s security, she continued, “we are concerned that Russia might abuse it.” She would not specify the reason for the arrest, only stating that “it was the correct time to cease the activities he was engaged in.”
A PST representative informed the local media that the case is “big” and that a judge ordered the man to be detained for four weeks.
The suspect, according to officials, was employed in Norway as a part of Russia’s alleged “illegals” scheme.
Before sending spies abroad, Russia’s intelligence agencies create false identities, or “legends,” for them. This practise was first started by the KGB during the Cold War and has recently been reintroduced by President Vladimir Putin.
According to Ms Moe, “normally illegal agents are talent scouts recruiting agents for later, and setting the stage for other spies to undertake traditional intelligence job.” “The use of an illegal agent is a long-term endeavour. It is really expensive. Only major state actors employ them, and it is known that Russia has done so in the past.”
The individual has not been recognised, but local media stated that he possessed a master’s degree from the University of Calgary’s Center for Military, Security, and Strategic Studies, according to his social media posts.
The leader of the group claimed that the individual was conducting unpaid research, which was unusual but not entirely unheard of.
“He first got in touch with me last fall… He was evaluated in the same manner as other researchers. He cited a professor I knew well, who was one of his references “Professor of security studies at the University of Tromso, Gunhild Hoogensen Gjoerv.
She remarked, “He was a really wonderful guy, really good at his work. “We had no cause to believe he was anything other than who he claimed to be.”
Despite not having access to any confidential information, she told the Guardian that the individual did “get an awareness and insights into the kind of discussions and arguments that we are having about security.”
A number of Russian citizens have been detained recently by Norwegian security forces on suspicion of serving Russia as spies. Eight persons have been detained for using drones to photograph or fly them close to important infrastructure.
