Former U.S. Embassy Security Guard in Oslo Indicted for Alleged Espionage Ties to Russia and Iran

A former security guard at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, has been indicted on charges of espionage for allegedly sharing sensitive information with Russian and Iranian authorities. The Norwegian man, whose identity remains undisclosed, was arrested in November 2024 on suspicion of compromising national security. Prosecutors accuse him of providing details about embassy diplomats, floor plans, and security procedures.

The defendant’s attorney, Inger Zadig, acknowledges the facts of the indictment but denies any criminal wrongdoing. She argues that the information shared was not classified and that her client lacked a security clearance. The charges carry a potential 21-year prison sentence.

Investigations revealed that the man initiated contact with Russian and Iranian intelligence services, reportedly motivated by the U.S. ties to Israel and the Gaza conflict. He is alleged to have received €10,000 from Russian authorities and 0.17 Bitcoin (approximately $20,000) from Iranian officials in exchange for the information.

At the time of his arrest, the man was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in security and preparedness at Norway’s Arctic University, UiT. This is the second such case at UiT in recent years; a guest researcher previously arrested on espionage charges was later revealed to be a Russian operative.

Norway shares a 198-kilometer border with Russia in the Arctic. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Norway has heavily restricted entry for Russian nationals and is considering building a fence along its border with Russia.

The trial for the former embassy security guard is scheduled to begin on August 19, 2025, in Oslo District Court, with two weeks set aside for the main hearing.