OREANDA-NEWS The government has included Norway in the list of states committing unfriendly actions against Russian diplomatic and consular missions abroad, according to the Cabinet's website.

The measure was adopted as part of Vladimir Putin's decree of 2021, which was signed after the mass expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western countries. Then the list included the USA and the Czech Republic. In July 2022, it was expanded to include Greece, Denmark, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia. These countries have been restricted from hiring employees in embassies, consulates and representative offices of government agencies located on the territory of Russia.

According to the government, the list contains not only the names of countries, but also the number of citizens in Russia with whom representative offices of unfriendly countries can conclude employment contracts. The limit for Norway was 27 people.

In mid-April, the Norwegian authorities expelled 15 employees of the Russian embassy. Oslo called them intelligence officers who "engage in activities that are incompatible with their diplomatic status." Moscow called these actions a "hostile step" and declared ten Norwegian diplomats persona non grata. The Foreign Ministry allowed the adoption of other retaliatory measures.

Since the spring of 2022, another list of countries committing unfriendly acts has been in effect in Russia, the authorities approved it after the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine and the imposition of sanctions against Moscow. Russia also considers it unfriendly to provide military support to Kiev. This document establishes a temporary procedure for the fulfillment by the state and residents of obligations on loans, loans and financial instruments to creditors. The list includes about 50 countries, including the EU, the UK, the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and others.