Swedish Intelligence Foils Russian Spy Operation in Stockholm

Sweden’s security service has disrupted a Russian espionage operation aimed at influencing important decisions in the country and undermining Sweden and the European Union.

Christoffer Wedelin, deputy head of the Swedish Security Service’s operational department, announced this, according to the Sweden Herald.

Swedish security officials identified two officers from Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service who had recruited an employee of a foreign embassy in Stockholm. The embassy employee was allegedly used to obtain confidential information about Sweden’s international relations and to fuel controversial and divisive issues.

Law enforcement monitored the individuals involved, documenting their secret meetings in restaurants and on the streets of the city, as well as the transfer of collected information and gifts from their Russian handlers.

Counterintelligence officials were aware of the Russians’ instructions and the recruited informant’s activities, allowing them to cut off the contacts in time and disrupt the hostile operation without causing significant harm to the country’s security.

Since all three individuals involved in the operation had diplomatic immunity, they could not be detained or prosecuted and have already left Sweden.

The agency explained that it released details of the case to warn the public about threats from Russia. It also noted that one in three Russian diplomats in the country is linked to the intelligence services.