Sweden Democrats employee scandal: staffer accused of spreading pro-Russian narratives
An investigation in Sweden has found that a parliamentary employee of the Sweden Democrats party had long spread narratives echoing Russian propaganda. The scandal broke less than two weeks before parliamentary elections.
Sweden's right-wing populist Sweden Democrats party has had to respond after broadcaster SVT published findings about one of its parliamentary staff members. According to Yevropeiska Pravda, an investigation by the organization Expo found that the woman, who reportedly has a close relationship with one of the party's senior politicians, had for years consumed and shared content from the Russian information space on her social media, and had attended cultural events with links to Russia.
The woman moved to Sweden from Russia in the mid-2000s, though the report does not clarify whether she holds Russian citizenship. Investigators say she has systematically shared material echoing Russian propaganda narratives since the occupation of Crimea, and continued doing so after February 2022. It also emerged that she has ties to Pravfond, a Russian organization founded by Russia's Foreign Ministry and Rossotrudnichestvo, which under the guise of providing legal aid to Russians abroad spreads Russian influence worldwide.
Reaction from the prime minister and the party
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said after the report was published that he expects the party to ensure the employee is dismissed. He stressed that there is no place for pro-Russian narratives in Sweden and that it is unacceptable for someone spreading them to work in the Swedish parliament. The Sweden Democrats' press office responded that all staff undergo security vetting and claimed the woman had recently criticized Russian authorities. Party leader Jimmie Åkesson said that if the allegations prove true, they will be taken seriously and require a closer look at the details.
The report emerged less than two weeks before parliamentary elections, in which the Sweden Democrats could for the first time potentially join the government — either by joining the parties of the current coalition or by becoming the largest opposition faction. The party currently ranks second in polls, behind the Social Democrats led by Magdalena Andersson. Åkesson previously had to explain his acquaintance with the president of a motorcycle club linked to organized crime.
