The Storting, Control and Constitution Committee has formally established an investigation into the Kongsberg/Mostrello case. This is confirmed by committee leader Per-Willy Amundsen (Frp) to NRK.

– the Storting’s business is to prevent this from happening again. This should never happen again, he says.

It became clear earlier in december that PST is dropping the case that was opened after NRK revealed in October that advanced underwater equipment from Norwegian Kongsberg Maritime (now Kongsberg Discovery) has ended up in Russia. The resale has taken place via a company in Cyprus, called Mostrello.

Amundsen says there is a reason why the committee is only now looking at the matter.

– it was a bit problematic for us to do so as long as PST was investigating the case.Now it has been dropped, and then it is indeed only natural for us to follow up on the case, says Amundsen.

## Can become a matter of control

The reason for the closure is that it was not found proven that anything criminal has happened.Amundsen still wants to get to the bottom of the matter.

He believes that it is both extremely unfortunate and very problematic that important Norwegian technology is exported via various companies to Russia.- This damages our ability to secure Norwegian independence and independence and indirectly our military capability,he says.

Amundsen is aware that the Control and Constitution Committee may initiate a control case.

– If highly objectionable conditions are uncovered, and I would not rule that out, then a control case will be brought.

## Four questions for Barth eide

During the Control and Constitution Committee’s meeting last week,it was decided to send a letter with questions to Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap). This is the first part of the committee’s investigation.

In the letter, with a response deadline of 13 January, they ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs to explain:

Kongsberg Equipment Linked to Russian Military Program

Helsingforskomitee: – Naive

In Russia, Kongsberg equipment supports a military monitoring program on the seabed in the Barents Sea. This program protects Russia’s nuclear weapons and monitors NATO activity at sea.

The Norwegian Helsinki Committee welcomes the Control and constitution Committee’s serious consideration of this matter. Secretary-General berit Lindemann emphasizes the importance of complying with international sanctions regarding exports to Russia.

“Since PST closed the case,authorities must examine more than just potential criminal activity,” she says. “They need to assess how Norwegian authorities ensure sanctions compliance.”

Lindemann notes the international market’s complexity and explains that shell companies,such as Mostrello,exist specifically to circumvent sanctions. Identifying these structures is challenging.

“However, I believe we may also be somewhat naive. We lack a strong tradition of thorough investigation,especially regarding third-party sales,” Lindemann states.

– Have concluded

Kongsberg Discovery declined an interview regarding this case. Communications manager Charlotte Gjone stated in an email to NRK that PST investigated the matter.

“They have already concluded their investigation by closing the case due to a lack of proven criminal offense. I have no further comment,” she wrote.

Kongsberg previously stated that the sales NRK uncovered complied with export regulations at the time.

NRK contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment but has not yet received a response.