Former US embassy guard in Norway on trial for spying for Russia, Iran

OSLO (AFP): A Norwegian who worked as a security guard for the US embassy in Oslo went on trial Wednesday, accused of sharing information with Russian and Iranian intelligence, media reported.

The man, who is in his late 20s, is accused of having supplied information on embassy activities between March 2024 and November 20, the date of his arrest, according to the charge sheet.

In return, he was paid in euros and bitcoin.

He is accused of having supplied either the Russians or the Iranians — or both — with the contact details of diplomats, embassy staff and their families.

He is also accused of having supplied the diplomatic license-plate numbers of vehicles used by the embassy.

The charge sheet also alleges he handed over floor plans of the embassy, security routines and a list of couriers Norway’s intelligence service used.

On the first day of his trial, prosecutors presented evidence in the form of an email to the Russian embassy where the man wrote that he had “information that could be useful to you,” public broadcaster NRK reported.

The trial is scheduled to take eight days.

“He acknowledges the facts of the case but denies criminal liability. He is sorry for what he has done, but he is not a spy,” Inger Zadig, the defendant’s lawyer, told news agency NTB.

If convicted of the charges, he could spend up to 21 years in jail, the prosecution service told AFP in July.

Norway’s intelligence service has regularly accused Russia, Iran and China as being the greatest threats to the country so far as spying is concerned.

A member of NATO, Norway shares a land border with Russia in the Arctic.