Russian detained in Norway on suspicions of espionage turned out to be a Russian Parliament employee
A Russian national who was detained in Oslo on suspicions of espionage was an employee of the Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation as reported on the website of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“It was stressed that an employee of the Council of the Federal Assembly M. A. Bochkarev was is Norway by invitation, at the European Center for Parliamentary Research and Documentation attending an international seminar which took place in the Norwegian Parliament,” the statement reads.
As noted, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the Norwegian Ambassador to Russia Rune Resaland, where he was informed of strong disapproval of the detention of Russian national Mikhail Bochkarev and his arrest on charges of espionage.
“Such steps will not be left without consequences,” added Moscow.
As reported, the Russian citizen was detained at the airport in Oslo on suspicion of “illegal espionage activity on sovereign territory.” The Russian embassy in Norway later confirmed the detention of a 51-year-old Russian and said that the detention and subsequent arrest “are contrived and committed under an absurd pretense.”