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Norway declares 15 employees of Russian embassy personae non gratae — statement

In April 2022, Norway announced the expulsion of three members of the Russian diplomatic mission

STOCKHOLM, April 13. /TASS/. The Norwegian authorities have declared 15 employees of the Russian embassy personae non gratae, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Thursday.

"The Government has now decided to declare as personae non gratae 15 Russian intelligence officers who have been working under diplomatic cover in Norway," the statement said.

"The 15 <…> [Russian diplomats] have been engaging in activities that are not compatible with their diplomatic status," the kingdom’s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt pointed out, explaining why the Russians were declared personae non gratae.

According to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, the Russian embassy employees are to leave Norway "shortly". The Norwegian authorities said that they would not issue visas to Russians suspected of cooperation with the intelligence services. However, the top Norwegian diplomat stressed that "Norway is seeking to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia". She added that "Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway".

In April 2022, Norway announced the expulsion of three members of the Russian diplomatic mission.

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