Johan Huovinen on the time as a suspect • “Would have been a good Netflix series” • The connection to Russia
When the investigation into crimes against national security became known, he was named the “top military man” in the media.
Now Johan Huovinen chooses to appear by name and tell about the time after the dramatic arrest on 17 October last year.
The national task force then, on behalf of Säpo, attacked Johan Huovinen and his wife’s apartment in central Stockholm at 05 in the morning.
– I had stepped up and was on my way to SVT to talk about the Middle East and Gaza. I stood and prepared myself and did my morning toilet. Then someone started knocking on the door – frantically. They were trying to break open the door with a crowbar. Then I ran towards the door.
– When I arrived, the door flew open and a bunch of plainclothes police stormed in, shouting “police, police”. I was lightly pushed up against the wall. I was completely naked. After a while it was announced that I had been arrested.
“Armed to the teeth – tough times”
Johan Huovinen says that he was very shocked. His wife, who for decades worked at the top-secret Defense Radio Agency (FRA), was also arrested and all the electronics in the home were confiscated.
– At first I didn’t know what I was arrested for, but you understand quite quickly that if the police break open the door and storm in armed to the teeth, then it is something that is not a normal situation.
The couple was taken to Kronoberg prison where Säpo began questioning them. The formal suspicion to the outside has been gross unauthorized position with a secret task. Both were detained and locked up for almost two months, until 13 December.
– It was a difficult time. When you are in custody with full restrictions, you do not know what happens to your family, your children, parents, siblings and friends and acquaintances. Then you don’t know how this matter is described in the outside world and the media. It was a difficult period, says Johan Huovinen and adds that he will request compensation for the time in custody.
Huovinen: Very hard to live as a suspect
On Wednesday, the National Security Unit announced that the case against Johan Huovinen has been closed, but that the investigation against the wife continues.
– It was expected, I think, because I am innocent, so I cannot see in front of me that I would be convicted of something that is not true. If you’re suspected of something that’s completely preposterous, it’s hard to take it seriously. I have always known that I am innocent of this. Which I have talked about from the beginning.
– But between my release on December 13 and until last Wednesday, that’s nine months and quite a long time. It is clear that it is very difficult to live as a suspect for such a long time. It’s almost like being a pariah.
What reactions have you received?
– I have worked in a security industry all my life. And it consists of people trusting you. Then someone comes, in this case the Security Police, and says that you are suspected of crimes against national security. If you had 100 percent trust, you might get minus five in trust. It is of course unfortunate and difficult, he says, adding that some friends disappeared while others were supportive.
The suspicion linked to Russia: “Pure imagination”
Johan Huovinen has been gagged by Säpo and cannot say more about the suspicions directed at him or his wife, but says:
– It is a pure fantasy that has been painted, which also proved to be untrue.
Do you have any idea who, why or where it was painted?
– I understand how it can turn out like this. I am one of the two Swedish officers who spent a lot of time in Russia and Ukraine. There is always an excessively strong interest in looking more closely at all the people who have been to Russia. It is there somewhere that the truth lies.
Critical of Säpo: “Me and the wife a super-couple”
The lieutenant colonel criticizes Säpo’s level of expertise on Russia and says he could train them.
– Unfortunately, those who work with these issues at the Security Police may be working according to the wrong method. In addition, they may not have a deep knowledge of Russia, as I and some of my colleagues do. In the last 20 years, they have looked at terrorism, IS, the development of the state, the war in Afghanistan and Mali. But after 2022, there has been a strong focus on Russia. Then the competence may not be there fully, to the extent that it would be needed.
– Then you choose what you perceive as simple goals. “There he is, he has been to Russia and must be guilty”. With the wrong analysis, you can end up where we have ended up.
Johan Huovinen’s wife has had to quit FRA, where she was an analyst and had expertise on Russia. He hopes that the prosecutor will also close the investigation against her.
– My wife and I have been considered a super-couple in the intelligence sphere in Sweden. We have both worked with Russia for the past 15-20 years. And it is clear that when they choose to attack and suspect both me and my wife, Sweden’s ability to make judgments about Russia is also indirectly affected.