Gustav Gellerbrant comments on his partner's connections to Russia and takes parental leave

Gustav Gellerbrant is head of the Sweden Democrats' coordination office in the Government Office and a key person in the Tidö collaboration. Since 2024, he lives together with a woman from Russia, who works as an official for the Sweden Democrats in the Riksdag.

The magazine Expo has described in an investigation how the woman shared pro-Russian propaganda, participated in a Kremlin-sponsored trip to Russia and participated in cultural events arranged by Russian state actors.

Commenting on social media

On Sunday, Gustav Gellerbrant commented for the first time on the accusations in a post on social media. He writes that in some cases the partner's posts are very old and that it is about "obvious irony and sarcasm". He writes that in other posts she expressed bitter criticism of the Russian regime, both before and after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

"She describes February 24, 2022 on her social media as the worst day of her life."

Kremlin trip "Clearly inappropriate"

Regarding the Kremlin-sponsored trip she took part in in 2017, he writes that in retrospect it is clear that the trip was inappropriate, but that it was not up to her as a newly appointed political secretary to decide on the trip's implementation. Afterwards, however, she is said to have cooperated with European authorities under circumstances that she cannot tell about.

"However, it is a wise starting point to assume that the relevant authorities have extensive knowledge of things that are of interest based on their respective missions." he writes.

Gellerbrant's position in the Government Office is security classified and he writes that he has described his relationship in detail in the Government Office's security clearance.

Going on parental leave

Gellerbrant is critical of the media's reporting and calls it an "inhuman strain on my family". He now chooses to go on immediate parental leave.

"In order to gain further distance and to avoid shifting the focus in the ongoing election campaign, I will ask during parental leave to deposit the pass card and computer with the Government Office," he writes.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has demanded that the cohabitant be fired by SD if Expo's information is correct. He also says that he has great confidence in the Government Office's security checks.