A spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry lashed out at Norway on Wednesday, claiming that officials in Oslo are “on a destructive course” towards escalation of tensions in the “Euro-Arctic region.” Russian news bureau Tass reported that Zakharova claimed such a course will lead to the destruction of Russian-Norwegian relations.
Her remarks come after the arrests in Norway of several Russians for illegally operating drones and of a university researcher in Tromsø believed to actually be a Russian spy. Zakharova dismissed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as the reason for increased tensions, opting instead to blame actions by people “in the West.”
She claimed that foreign military bases have been established in Norway on a permanent bases, that “infrastructure has been modernized and modern equipment is being purchased,” and that “Oslo is now among the most active supporters of NATO’s involvement in the Arctic.”
Zakharova described Norwegian-Russian relations as hitting bottom, and blamed Norway for that, too. She accused Norwegian police of going after “Russian tourists, who are jailed in Norway.”
NewsinEnglish.no staff
