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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Russia jails Norwegian Frode Berg for spying on submarines | Russia jails Norwegian Frode Berg for spying on submarines |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A Moscow court has sentenced a 63-year-old Norwegian, Frode Berg, to 14 years in a strict-regime labour camp for spying on Russian navy submarines. | A Moscow court has sentenced a 63-year-old Norwegian, Frode Berg, to 14 years in a strict-regime labour camp for spying on Russian navy submarines. |
| Berg, arrested in Moscow in 2017, denied the accusation. | Berg, arrested in Moscow in 2017, denied the accusation. |
| He formerly worked as a guard on the Norwegian-Russian border, and had been actively promoting closer ties. | |
| Berg admitted acting as a courier for Norwegian intelligence, but said he had little knowledge of the mission. The case remains shrouded in secrecy. | |
| Berg's lawyer, Ilya Novikov, said his client would not appeal against the verdict but would seek a pardon from President Vladimir Putin. | Berg's lawyer, Ilya Novikov, said his client would not appeal against the verdict but would seek a pardon from President Vladimir Putin. |
| Norway - a Nato member - shares an Arctic border with Russia and for decades their relations were amicable, even during the Cold War. But ties have worsened since 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. | Norway - a Nato member - shares an Arctic border with Russia and for decades their relations were amicable, even during the Cold War. But ties have worsened since 2014, when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula. |
| Read more on similar topics: | |
| Mr Novikov, quoted by AFP news agency, said Berg "expects his government to undertake diplomatic efforts" and "we see no practical use in appealing". | Mr Novikov, quoted by AFP news agency, said Berg "expects his government to undertake diplomatic efforts" and "we see no practical use in appealing". |
| "He's been used without his knowledge," Mr Novikov said. "We cannot talk about gathering any secret information." | "He's been used without his knowledge," Mr Novikov said. "We cannot talk about gathering any secret information." |
| He warned that, at the age of 63, Berg was facing "basically a life sentence". | He warned that, at the age of 63, Berg was facing "basically a life sentence". |
| The BBC's Sarah Rainsford in Moscow says Berg was accused of posting envelopes containing cash and instructions from Norwegian intelligence, most recently to a Russian woman, named Natasha. | |
| The possible role of a Russian defence ministry contact, who was allegedly under Russian surveillance, remains murky. |