Norwegian spy suspect released: China denies involvement

A Norwegian citizen who was arrested in July on suspicion of espionage will be released, according to the Norwegian Police Intelligence Service (PST). Despite the release, the charges against him remain and the investigation will continue into the autumn.

The man, who has been in custody for nearly two months, was arrested on his return from China and charged with attempted serious espionage against state secrets. He has always denied the charges and claimed he runs a center for political analysis, according to his lawyer Marius Dietrichson.

Dietrichson states that the grounds for suspicion have become weaker and describes the allegations as baseless. He stresses that a real spy would not be released and expresses his satisfaction with the decision, but without commenting on the evidence against his client. He calls for more transparency from the authorities.

The court concluded that the suspicion was not particularly strong, although PST claimed it had intensified. The accused already had contacts and roles in several Norwegian political parties and organizations and holds a doctorate from a prestigious university in China.

The Chinese embassy has denied the espionage allegations, calling them irresponsible and expressing concern that such accusations could jeopardize China-Norway relations. According to the PST's 2024 threat assessment, China poses a significant intelligence threat related to increased control over supply chains and positioning in the Arctic.