A Soviet geologist defects to Norway

August 16, 1983

A Soviet geologist has defected to Norway from a group of Soviet scientists working on Norway's Spitzbergen Islands, a government official said. Carl Wendt, Norway's governor on Spitzbergen, told reporters the defector approached him on Saturday and was brought to Oslo by special plane during the weekend. Mr. Wendt said police were questioning the Russian, whose name was withheld.