Man Accused of Being Russian Spy in Norway Attended Universities in Ottawa, Calgary

Man Accused of Being Russian Spy in Norway Attended Universities in Ottawa, Calgary
File photo of Norwegian flag. Ragnar Singsaas/Getty Images
The Canadian Press
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A man arrested in Norway who is suspected of being a Russian spy has ties to Canada.

Norwegian authorities arrested Jose Assis Giammaria on Monday on suspicion of being an “illegal,” which is a term that describes a spy operating with a false identity.

Police allege Giammaria, described as a Brazilian researcher in Norwegian press, is actually Russian and works for a Russian intelligence service.

His lawyer, Thomas Hansen, told Verdens Gang AS news agency in Norway that Giammaria denies the accusations and is in shock.

A 2015 convocation program from Ottawa’s Carleton University shows Jose Assis Giammaria graduated with a honours bachelor of arts in political science with a concentration in international relations and a minor in communications studies.

The University of Calgary said in a statement that he also attended the Alberta school and graduated in the fall of 2018 with a master of strategic studies, a degree program that shares content with programs in political science, history and international relations.

“Students in this program are taught by professors and instructors–not military professionals–to build a well-rounded understanding of the drivers of military, security and strategic decision-making,” said the statement.

“No access to information is provided that any other student in any other program wouldn’t have.”

The university referred any other questions to the federal government.