Norway's envoy to Moscow summoned after arrests of Russians
Moscow on Monday summoned the Norwegian ambassador after a number of Russians were arrested in the Nordic country over the use of drones.
The Russian foreign ministry said it had told Norway's envoy Robert Kvile that Oslo should stop persecuting "Russian citizens on the basis of their nationality".
Last week a Russian man was sentenced to 90 days in jail in Norway for flying a drone over Norwegian territory in violation of a ban adopted in
response to Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.
Nearly a dozen Russians have been arrested in Norway in recent weeks for violating the flight ban or the ban on photographing sites deemed sensitive, as the country has heightened security around strategic infrastructure. The Norwegian ban includes the use of drones.
"We have noted that the sentences against the Russians are politically motivated and have nothing to do with the principles of fair and unbiased
justice," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Now Europe's main supplier of natural gas, Norway has been on high alert since mysterious unmanned aircraft were spotted near strategic sites, including oil and gas platforms far offshore, over the past few weeks.
"Our ambassador took the opportunity to inform (Russia) of Norwegian legislation on sanctions," Lars Gjemble, a spokesman for Norway's foreign ministry, said in a comment to media on the summoning.
"He also reviewed the cases that are currently being processed in Norwegian courts. The meeting was held in a good tone," he added.
The meeting with the Norwegian envoy took place on the eve of the opening of another trial in the northern city of Tromso, involving Andrei Yakunin -- son of the former head of Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin, considered a confidant of Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
The British-Russian national is accused of flying a drone in Svalbard during a trip around the strategically located archipelago in the Arctic.
His lawyer has stated he intends to use his British citizenship to ask for an acquittal.
Last month, the Russian embassy in Oslo criticised what it said was a "psychosis" in Norway, a NATO member with which Russia shares a 198-kilometre
(123-mile) border in the far north.
Comments
See Also
The Russian foreign ministry said it had told Norway's envoy Robert Kvile that Oslo should stop persecuting "Russian citizens on the basis of their nationality".
Last week a Russian man was sentenced to 90 days in jail in Norway for flying a drone over Norwegian territory in violation of a ban adopted in
response to Moscow's offensive in Ukraine.
Nearly a dozen Russians have been arrested in Norway in recent weeks for violating the flight ban or the ban on photographing sites deemed sensitive, as the country has heightened security around strategic infrastructure. The Norwegian ban includes the use of drones.
"We have noted that the sentences against the Russians are politically motivated and have nothing to do with the principles of fair and unbiased
justice," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.
Now Europe's main supplier of natural gas, Norway has been on high alert since mysterious unmanned aircraft were spotted near strategic sites, including oil and gas platforms far offshore, over the past few weeks.
"Our ambassador took the opportunity to inform (Russia) of Norwegian legislation on sanctions," Lars Gjemble, a spokesman for Norway's foreign ministry, said in a comment to media on the summoning.
"He also reviewed the cases that are currently being processed in Norwegian courts. The meeting was held in a good tone," he added.
The meeting with the Norwegian envoy took place on the eve of the opening of another trial in the northern city of Tromso, involving Andrei Yakunin -- son of the former head of Russian Railways, Vladimir Yakunin, considered a confidant of Russia's President Vladimir Putin.
The British-Russian national is accused of flying a drone in Svalbard during a trip around the strategically located archipelago in the Arctic.
His lawyer has stated he intends to use his British citizenship to ask for an acquittal.
Last month, the Russian embassy in Oslo criticised what it said was a "psychosis" in Norway, a NATO member with which Russia shares a 198-kilometre
(123-mile) border in the far north.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.