Suspected Russian spy arrested in Norway

Counterintelligence Norway (PST) has arrested a suspected Russian spy posing as a Brazilian researcher. As the PST announced on Tuesday, the access took place on Monday morning when the suspect went to his workplace at the University of Tromsö in northern Norway.

"We assume that he worked for the Russian authorities," Deputy Counterintelligence Chief Hedvig Moe told TV2. In this case, Norwegian counterintelligence cooperated with the secret services of friendly countries. She wants to apply for the alleged spy, who was initially detained for four weeks, to be deported.

The domestic intelligence service is concerned that it may have created a network and obtained information about "Norway's politics in the northern region". One is concerned that the information could be misused by Russia.

The university said the suspect was a visiting lecturer. The suspect's lawyer, Thomas Hansen, told the newspaper "VG" that his client denied any wrongdoing.

Several Russian citizens have been arrested in Norway in recent weeks, including three men and a woman who have since been released, for allegedly taking pictures in places where photography is banned. European countries have stepped up security measures around key energy, internet and electricity infrastructure following underwater explosions on the Nord Stream 1 and 2 Baltic Sea gas pipelines.

NATO member Norway shares an almost 200-kilometer-long border with Russia in the Arctic. Norway has now replaced Russia as the main supplier on the European gas market.