Five Russian diplomats are expelled from Sweden. That decision the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press release with reference to the Security Police’s work with counterintelligence. – It is about people who are here under diplomatic cover, but who engage in illegal intelligence work in Sweden, says Adam Samara, press secretary, Security Police. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has today summoned Russia’s ambassador Victor Tatarintsev. During the meeting, it was announced that five officials at the Russian embassy in Sweden were asked to leave the country. The reason is that they engaged in “activities that are not compatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.” The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commented on the incident in a letter to TV4 news. There it is confirmed that the basis for the deportation decision comes from, among other things, the Security Police. “The security police (and other relevant authorities) have reported that Russia is continuously conducting intelligence gathering in Sweden. This constitutes a security threat that the government takes very seriously. The security police work together with other authorities to detect, interrupt and counter Russia’s intelligence gathering in Sweden.“, writes the Foreign Ministry’s press service. The security police confirm the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ letter regarding Russian intelligence continuously trying to illegally obtain information about Sweden. – Russia continuously operates an intelligence department in Sweden and it takes several different forms. Among other things, through the Russian diplomatic mission in Sweden, where it is about intelligence officers acting under diplomatic cover, says Adam Samara and continues: – It can be about obtaining information about politics, defense or economics, you are simply looking for our secrets. The ambassador is called to a meeting They confirm that Tatarintsev was called to a meeting, but do not want to explain the reasons for the expulsion decision in detail or which Russian officials it concerns. “It is true that the Foreign Ministry has today summoned the Russian ambassador, where the announcement was made that Sweden is expelling five officials at the Russian embassy in Sweden. The reason is that they conducted activities that are not compatible with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. We do not go into more detail about which officials are concerned.“, writes the Foreign Ministry’s press service. According to the ministry, the decision is preceded by a longer period of work to prevent Russian officials in Sweden from activities that conflict with the Vienna Convention. “For a long time, we have taken measures to prevent emissaries at the Russian embassy in Sweden from engaging in activities that conflict with the Vienna Convention. We have expelled and we have denied visas to Russian embassy staff. In recent years, with today’s announcement, more than ten people have been asked to leave Sweden. Thus, the number of Russian embassy personnel who act in violation of the Vienna Convention has been significantly limited.“, writes the Foreign Ministry’s press service. TV4 Nyheterna has, without success, searched for the foreign minister and the Russian ambassador. The text is updated.
t4-general
Sweden expels five Russian diplomats
