Located near Norway’s border with Russia, Kirkenes has become a town where everybody knows someone who has been involved in spy activities, or has been approached by the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) for seemingly innocuous requests, until Russian Intelligence suddenly arrests you while you’re in the middle of an errand, and charges you with espionage. That was the story of Frode Berg, who was unknowingly sent by the NIS to deliver a memory card that tried to look into Russia’s submarine weapons systems. He was caught, and after seven months, sent back home through a prisoner exchange. That would be the last he’ll take on a request from the NIS.
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Berg isn’t the only one, it seems, as many locals of Kirkenes have experienced a similar encounter. Many of those being approached by the NIS were business owners and people with personal connections in Russia who risk being seen talking to the NIS as Russian spies lurked among the people of Kirkenes. When Berg had been arrested, he shared that the intelligence officers showed how much they knew of the town, its residents, and even the goings-on in the town. This has stirred unrest and paranoia among the residents and understably so, after news of Berg’s arrest spread. Everybody became suspicious that the person they were talking to might be a spy.
Ian MacDougall visits the town to investigate further and recounts the spy stories he heard during his stay in Kirkenes.
(Image credit: Killian Cartignies/Unsplash)
Source: neatorama