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Russia jails Norwegian Frode Berg for spying on submarines | Russia jails Norwegian Frode Berg for spying on submarines |
(about 1 hour 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. | 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 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: | 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 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 former Russian policeman, who was allegedly under Russian surveillance, remains murky. |