An Oslo court convicted a 28-year-old former US Embassy guard of espionage on Wednesday, ruling that he spied for Russia and Iran. Judges sentenced him to three years and seven months in prison after finding him guilty on five espionage-related charges. The court acquitted him of gross corruption.
Prosecutors said the man shared confidential information about the embassy’s diplomats, floor plans, and security routines with foreign agents, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK. The man admitted the facts in the indictment but denied criminal intent.
NRK reported that the man’s anger over US ties to Israel and the war in Gaza led him to contact Russian and Iranian agents.
Defence Argues Information Was Worthless
The man’s defence attorneys questioned the verdict, saying it blurred the definition of espionage under Norwegian law.
“He lied about having clearance and exaggerated his position,” said attorney Inger Zadig from Elden Law Firm.
Zadig said the man had access equivalent to a janitor and that the information he shared held no value to any country’s security.
“Nothing he revealed could harm individuals or national interests,” she added.
At the time of his arrest last November, the man was studying for a bachelor’s degree in security and preparedness at Norway’s Arctic University (UiT). His defence team said they might appeal the ruling, while prosecutor Carl Fredrik Fari confirmed the state may appeal the sentence because it had requested more than six years in prison.
Norway Tightens Security Amid Rising Spy Threats
This conviction marks the second espionage case involving UiT in recent years, NRK noted. One of the individuals in last year’s Russia-West prisoner exchange was a UiT guest researcher who used a false Brazilian identity. Authorities later identified him as Russian national Mikhail Valeryevich Mikushin.
Norway, which shares a 198-kilometre Arctic border with Russia, has restricted Russian entry since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The Norwegian government also plans to construct a fence along parts of the border to strengthen national security.
Officials say the verdict underscores Norway’s growing concern over foreign intelligence operations in the region as tensions with Russia continue to rise.
