Norwegian spy could return home any time: Russian Foreign Minister

In a statement to Norwegian media, Foreign Minister of Russia Sergei Lavrov said that a Norwegian man sentenced to jail for spying could return home anytime. Lavrov had arrived in the Arctic town of Kirkenes in Norway on the 75th anniversary of its liberation by the Red Army, according to a video posted on October 25 on the Russian foreign ministry’s channel.
A Russian commission said the documents of official pardons had been passed to President Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

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Berg admitted to spying

The recommendation to release Frode Berg, 64, jailed for spying comes on the eve of a ceremony commemorating the Soviet liberation of north Norway. Berg is a retired guard of the Norwegian-Russian border and was detained in December 2017 and sentenced to jail for 14 years after being caught in gathering intelligence about nuclear submarines. He appealed not guilty to charges of espionage on behalf of Norway. Berg admitted acting as a courier for Norwegian intelligence but said that he had little knowledge of any mission. His lawyer,  Ilya Novikov, said at the time of sentencing that Berg would not appeal against the verdict and would instead seek a pardon from the president.

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Berg was accused of delivering envelopes

Moscow's Commissioner for Human Rights said on Thursday that the pardoning commission had sent the required documents to the presidential administrative office. Frode Berg revealed that he was delivering envelopes to a Russian source on behalf of Norwegian military intelligence. He said he was not aware of what was inside it. According to the reports, Berg was accused of delivering envelopes containing cash and instructions from Norwegian intelligence. Berg's wife blamed Norwegian intelligence service for putting her husband at risk and urged the Norwegian government to take steps to bring him home. Norway shares its Arctic border with Russia and for decades they had friendly relations. But the ties have worsened when Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula.

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(With inputs from agencies)