Russia adds Norway to list of nations taking 'unfriendly actions'

Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Russia on Thursday added Norway to its list of nations committing unfriendly actions directed at Russian diplomatic and consular missions abroad.

The Kremlin said the move restricting Norway's embassies in Russia to just 27 Russian employees was adopted to implement a decree by Russian President Vladimir Putin in April to take counteractions against countries committing "unfriendly actions" in the wake of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

"The decree involves limiting up to a complete ban for unfriendly countries the ability to hire embassies, consulates, representative offices of state bodies and state institutions of workers from among persons located on the territory of Russia," the Russian government statement said.

Norway's government-owned NRK public broadcaster reported that Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt wasn't surprised by Russia's action.

"But there is no basis for claiming that Norway is acting unfriendly towards Russia," Huitfeldt wrote in an email to NRK. "Today's situation is due to Russia's war against Ukraine. Russia can itself choose to end the war."

She added that both nations have an interest in functioning diplomatic relations and channels for contact "not least in challenging times."

Norway's Foreign Ministry said it would not comment further for now because the ministry had not received official information from Russian authorities regarding adding Norway to the unfriendly actions list.

According to NRK, no Norwegian embassy employees will lose jobs in Russia.

Norway expelled 15 Russians described as intelligence officers in April for "activities that are not compatible with their diplomatic status."

Norway's government said then that the decision was a response to the changed security situation in Europe" caused by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In May, Norway urged the public to avoid contact with a beluga whale near Oslo that appeared to be fitted with a harness for mounting a camera that may be spying on Norway. A public poll in Norway named the whale Whaledimir, a name similar to Vladimir, following a theory that the whale may have come from a Russian naval base in the Murmansk area.

Russia imposed similar limits on the diplomatic missions of the United States, the Czech Republic, Greece, Denmark, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia in May of 2021.

In July 2022 Russia added Greece, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia to the list of unfriendly nations. The list already included nearly two dozen countries at the time.