The Swedish Security Service (SAPO) uncovered and took action against a Russian intelligence operation aimed at influencing decision-making in Sweden, as well as discrediting Sweden, the EU and NATO. The Russian operation was carried out, among other things, through an agent of one of the foreign diplomatic missions in Sweden. This was reported by the press service of SAPO, writes UNN.
Details
The Russian intelligence operation involved, among other things, obtaining information about the decision-making process in Sweden so that moscow could subsequently influence contentious issues.
One of the aims of the operation was to gather information about the decision-making process in Sweden so that Russian intelligence services could conduct influence operations concerning contentious issues, with the aim of undermining the decision-making process and discrediting Sweden, NATO and the EU
During its intelligence work, the Security Police was able to determine exactly how the Russian intelligence operation was conducted.
According to SAPO, the operation "had been planned and directed by Russia’s foreign intelligence service for some time already".
The statement did not specify which diplomatic mission employed the agent who is alleged to have been involved in the case.
The work with the foreign agent continued for an extended period and was carried out using covert methods. In particular, the agent was assigned to collect information so that the Russian intelligence service could influence and malign Sweden’s decision-making process. The Swedish Security Service was able to closely track how the meetings took place and what was discussed at them