The man, who PST believes has a false identity, was arrested on his way to work in Tromsø on Tuesday morning. He himself has stated that he is a Brazilian citizen, but PST believes he is a Russian spy. Before the man came to Norway, he lived in Canada. There he volunteered in the election campaign of Sean Devine in Ottawa. In an interview with the Canadian CBC, the local politician says that it was a shock to hear about the news from Norway. – Like many others, he volunteered to take part in my campaign in 2015, says Devine. – As I remember it, he came with a very good CV. He showed me the papers and he was exactly the kind of person you want to have in a campaign. The local politician ran for the New Democratic Party in the Nepean district of Ottawa. Devine says that the man, now suspected of being a spy, knocked on doors and presented Devine’s political message. – He was really good at this, very efficient. He was with us for a few weeks, but I lost and that was it, says Devine. – Glad he lost – How did you react when you heard about this (the arrest)? – It was a shock for me. I thought it was a Brazilian, very smart student, who came to work with us. Now I hear that I was infiltrated by a Russian spy. I’m in shock here. Devine says it’s terrifying. – I lost that election. Whatever his goal was, he wanted to get something out of it. I’m glad I lost. What would he have gotten if I had won? Devine asks himself. The University of Calgary says that the Brazilian citizen who is suspected of espionage in Norway has taken a master’s degree there. The university confirms this to the public broadcaster in Canada, the CBC. He will have completed his master’s degree in the autumn of 2018. Russian embassy: – All this is politically ordered PST writes that the man is suspected of violating Section 121 of the Criminal Code, illegal intelligence that can damage fundamental national interests. The man’s lawyer, Thomas Hansen, tells news that his client does not understand the accusations. – In short, I can say that he opposes detention, and does not agree with the basis for it. I have received very little concrete information about the case so far, says Hansen. The Russian embassy writes in an e-mail to news that they are not aware of who or what it is about. – Generally speaking, recently spy mania has been actively promoted in Norway. Russian fishing vessels, Russian research ships, drone flights, photography and the like are mentioned in this context, writes the embassy to news. The embassy further writes that public agencies, private companies and individuals are all now suspected of espionage in Norway. – The fact that different cases come up on a conveyor belt is no doubt no accident. All this is politically ordered, writes the Russian embassy. Arrested in Tromsø The man who was arrested in Tromsø on Tuesday is employed at the University of Tromsø where he is part of the research group “The Gray Zone”. The group deals with topics such as social security, preparedness and hybrid threats. Colleagues describe him as curious, adaptable and someone who had a lot of humour. Group leader for the project is security researcher Gunhild Hoogensen Gjørv. She says that the man himself contacted the university. – It is almost ridiculous. I have a bit of a feeling of shock, and feel a bit abused and deceived, says Gjørv to news.
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– I’m glad I lost – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
