Norway tried to keep Zelenskyy’s Oslo visit secret, report says

Norwegian authorities attempted to conceal Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Oslo and his attendance at the funeral of King Harald V, the Dagbladet newspaper reports.

According to the publication, journalists had contacted Norway’s Foreign Ministry in advance seeking information about Zelenskyy’s possible attendance at the funeral. In response, the ministry referred the inquiry to the office of Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, which declined to comment on the matter.

The newspaper also noted that Norway’s Foreign Ministry had previously said the list of people who had confirmed their attendance at the ceremony was classified. At the same time, each country was allowed to announce its participation independently, while Ukraine chose not to disclose Zelenskyy’s attendance in advance.

King Harald V, who had ruled Norway since 1991, died on August 28 after more than 35 years on the throne. His state funeral is being held in Oslo on September 9, with the coffin carried from the Royal Palace to Oslo Cathedral before a private burial ceremony at Akershus Fortress.

By Jeyhun Aghazada