In a recent court ruling in Stockholm, Sergei Skvortsov, a Russian-born Swedish man, has been acquitted of charges of gross unlawful intelligence activity against the US and Sweden. Skvortsov, who has lived in Sweden for 25 years and runs import-export companies, was accused of providing Western technology to Russia’s military intelligence service from 2013 to 2022. Defense lawyer Ulrika Borg expressed relief at the verdict, although prosecutors still have three weeks to appeal.
The prosecutor, Henrik Olin, argued that Skvortsov acted as a “procurement agent” by supplying electronics to Russia’s military and its GRU military intelligence service. Allegedly, Skvortsov provided information about goods banned from export to Russia through his companies and facilitated their purchase and transportation by providing misleading information. Olin sought a five-year jail term for Skvortsov, considering him a serious threat to US and Swedish security.
Skvortsov and his wife were arrested in a dramatic special forces dawn raid in November 2022, with helicopters hovering over their home in Nacka near Stockholm. However, Skvortsov has maintained his innocence throughout the process. According to his lawyer, from the moment of his arrest, Skvortsov has been fully transparent about his work, insisting that it was legal and above board.
The case largely took place behind closed doors, and an FBI official provided evidence during the trial. Skvortsov spent 11 months in custody before being released earlier this month, ahead of his acquittal. Judge Jakob Hedenmo stated in a Swedish statement that Skvortsov’s actions aligned with Olin’s allegations, but there was no evidence to suggest that his activity aimed at obtaining espionage-related information. The judge concluded that the key question was whether Skvortsov’s actions were intended for espionage, which had not been proven.
This development comes amid a series of spying cases in Sweden, prompting Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to declare that the country is facing its most serious security situation since World War Two. In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine in 2022, Sweden applied to join NATO. Turkey recently submitted a bill to ratify Sweden’s NATO bid, leaving only Hungary to approve it. Additionally, last week, a married couple in their mid-50s was arrested on suspicion of processing classified information. The woman, who was detained, had been working as an intelligence officer in the Swedish military’s FRA signals intelligence unit. Her husband, a high-ranking military officer, denies the allegations.
While the court’s acquittal of Skvortsov may bring relief to him and his defense team, the case sheds light on the ongoing threat of espionage and the complexities of international security. It underscores the significance of maintaining strong intelligence networks and border control mechanisms to safeguard national interests. The Swedish government must remain vigilant in its efforts to counter espionage activities and strengthen collaboration with international partners to protect the country’s sovereignty and security.
