Norwegian on trial in Russia for spying

Frode Berg has been detained 483 days in Russia when spionrättegången begins on Tuesday. After an initial hearing on continued detention is expected to witnesses appearing in the courtroom from Wednesday.

were arrested on december 5, 2017, in Moscow, with the 3.000 euro, approximately 30,000 kronor, in cash.

Read more: Norwegian gränsinspektör accused of spying on Russia,

Frode Berg has admitted contacts with the Norwegian intelligence service, and that he has left over money in the Russian capital on the addresses that have received from contacts in Norway. But Berg says it doesn't have perceived that this would be a point in the spying, according to one of his lawyers.

Etterretningstjenesten, the Norwegian utlandsunderrättelsetjänsten, says that Berg is a consular matter for the department of state. It allows, in turn, only to provide help but do not want to comment on why the 63-year-old ended up where he did.

is 10-20 years in prison, but even if the punishment will be strict, there are few who believe that the Mountains may spend so long in Russian prison.

" We are very happy for that now something happens. Now there is hopefully a crucial shortly, says the president of Frode Berg's support group, Øystein Hansen.

A judgment is a prerequisite to a hearing on that Mountain you can return to Norway, according to Hansen, who calls the case ”a foreign policy sore for Norway and a human tragedy” for the Mountains.

Hansen also hope that prime minister Erna Solberg will take up Berg's case, when she will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin on 9 april.