Norwegian secret police warns against Russian spies

According to newspaper Aftenposten, there has over the last few years been a surge in intelligence activities directed against the ministry. The PST has on several occasions been in the ministry to warn against spies working as Russian diplomats. The Norwegian ministry officials have also been shown photos of the Russians believed to operate as spies. Several times, the names of the agents have come as an unpleasant surprise to the ministry officials, the newspaper writes Relations between Norway and Russia are developing positively. Still, under the shiny surface, there are several sensitive issues in the two countries’ bilateral relations. One of them is the 175,000 square kilometre big disputed zone in the Barents Sea. The Norwegian positions on the High North, Spitsbergen and NATO questions are among the issues of biggest interest for the Russian intelligence, Aftenposten maintains. Press spokesman for the PST, Mr. Martin Bernsen, confirms that Norwegian resource management, resource control, decisions processes, as well as strategies and negotiation positions are the issues of biggest interest to the foreign spies. The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) is part of the Norwegian police service. Administratively, and in its preventive activity, PST reports directly to the Ministry of Justice.