A Russian Orthodox church has been built in the Swedish city of Västerås near strategic facilities, which could threaten the country's national security. This is reported by Politico, according to UNN.
Details
It is noted that an ROC church was built on the outskirts of the Swedish city of Vasteras, which is located 100 km west of the capital Stockholm. The main gate of the church is located a few hundred meters from Vasteras Airport.
The airport is strategically important because it has been designated as a backup airport and is available for round-the-clock use in the event of a military or civilian crisis.
A minute's drive from the airport is a water treatment plant that serves Westeros, which has a population of 130 thousand people, and the surrounding areas.
Closer to the city itself are the production facilities of energy companies ABB and Westinghouse.
National security experts see a threat in the location of the Russian church in close proximity to the country's strategic facilities, as it can be used for intelligence purposes and to organize sabotage operations against Sweden.
In late May, the Swedish state body that provides financial support to religious organizations in the country, known as SST, stopped funding the church in Sweden after consulting with the country's Security Police (Säpo).
A Säpo spokesman said that the agency had concluded that church representatives “had contacts” with people working for Russian intelligence in Sweden.
The Russian state uses the Russian Orthodox Church in Sweden as a platform for conducting intelligence activities in Sweden,