Sweden Charges Man With Spying for Russia

Swedish prosecutors have charged a 34-year-old man with attempting to spy for Russia after allegedly offering highly classified information obtained through his work connected to Sweden’s Armed Forces to Russian intelligence services.

According to Sweden’s Prosecution Authority, the suspect travelled to Moscow in November 2025 and met representatives of Russia’s security and intelligence services, including the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (GRU).

“The suspect previously worked within the Swedish Armed Forces and, through that role, had access to information of very high security value,” prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist said in a statement.

Prosecutors allege the man attempted to disclose the information in exchange for protection from Swedish authorities and the prospect of obtaining Russian citizenship.

Suspect also linked to murder conspiracy probe

The man is also being held on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder in a separate investigation.

According to Swedish broadcaster SVT, the alleged offense was committed in Moscow in December 2025 and remains under investigation.

Authorities have released few details about the case, citing secrecy restrictions and the complexity of the investigation.

“It is a complex investigation involving a difficult-to-investigate crime,” Ljungqvist said.

Investigation began after stalking complaint

The espionage investigation reportedly began after a security guard working for Sweden’s National Defense Radio Establishment (FRA) contacted police and reported being followed.

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According to investigators, information uncovered during questioning of the suspect prompted authorities to transfer the case to Sweden’s Security Service (Säpo) and prosecutors specializing in national security cases.

The man is also charged with unlawful stalking between December 2025 and January 2026.

SVT reported that the suspect had previously studied cybersecurity-related subjects and worked on a project basis for the Swedish Armed Forces between 2018 and 2022 through an IT consulting company.

The suspect denied wrongdoing following his arrest in January. His defense lawyer has not publicly commented on the charges.

On May 4, Austria expelled three Russian diplomats over suspected espionage activities amid concerns about surveillance equipment installed on diplomatic buildings.

Austrian authorities declared the diplomats persona non grata over what officials described as an “antenna forest” on rooftops that could be used for signals intelligence.

“It is unacceptable that diplomatic immunity be used to commit espionage,” Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger said in a statement, adding that the diplomats had already left the country.