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A Norwegian man employed as a security guard at the United States embassy in Oslo has been formally charged with espionage on behalf of Russia and Iran, according to legal documents seen by AFP on Wednesday.
The 27-year-old is alleged to have passed sensitive information about the embassy’s operations to foreign powers between March 2024 and November 20, the date of his arrest. In exchange, prosecutors say he received payments in euros and bitcoin.
He is accused of providing details to either Russia, Iran, or possibly both, including the personal contact information of diplomats, embassy personnel, and their family members. He is also said to have shared diplomatic vehicle registration numbers and internal layouts of the embassy.
The charges further allege that he supplied information about security protocols and a list of couriers used by Norway’s intelligence services, actions the prosecution described as especially serious due to their implications for national security. The indictment, dated 22 July, states that the purpose was to disclose information to a foreign state.
According to his lawyer Inger Zadig, the accused has admitted to some of his actions but denies the legal charges brought against him. Norwegian broadcaster TV2 reported that he tried to conceal over €17,000 by transferring funds into accounts belonging to others in his personal network.
If found guilty, the man could face a prison sentence of up to 21 years, Norway’s prosecution service confirmed.
Norwegian intelligence services have repeatedly identified Russia, Iran, and China as the most significant foreign espionage threats facing the country. As a member of NATO, Norway shares a strategic and sensitive border with Russia in the Arctic region.
