SD official suspected of spreading pro-Russian propaganda after Crimea annexation

According to Expo, since Russia's annexation of Crimea, the SD official has shared material and written posts on Facebook, X and in Telegram that reproduce the Russian state narrative. But even after the full-scale invasion in 2022, the official, who moved to Sweden from Russia in the mid-2000s, has continued to share pro-Russian material about the war in Ukraine but also about Swedish institutions and Western countries.

In addition to his job, the official has also had connections to the Russian spy fund Pravfond, which SVT has previously reviewed.

The minister: "Pro-Russian views have no place"

According to the government, Russia is the biggest security threat to Sweden, and Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) takes the information seriously.

- There is no room for pro-Russian narratives in Sweden. We are in a European war. These are serious matters, he tells Aftonbladet.

Social Democrats party leader Magdalena Andersson tells SVT that she takes the information seriously.

- There are many questions that need to be answered now. But what we do know is that Russian hybrid warfare is a threat to our country's security.

Do you think this person can keep working?

- The Sweden Democrats have to answer that.

SD: All are security tested

Expo has not been able to confirm whether the official has been vetted. The Sweden Democrats' press department writes in a comment to SVT:

"Of course, we have to take a closer look at these serious details, but with that said, as an employer, we have routines for employment. All our secretaries undergo a security check, as do all our officials in the government office".

The press department also writes that the person has been strongly critical of the regime in Russia in recent years.

The Sweden Democrats' party leader Jimmie Åkesson says that the party takes a lot of the information seriously, "if it is true". He points out that the official is not on duty, and will not be for a while.

- This is not something that the party was aware of, as far as I know, but this is something that is being noticed today, but we have to look at this and sort this out, but we have time.

- I don't see any panic with this, says Åkesson.