The Swedish Security Service conducted the preliminary investigation. The Stockholm District Court notes in its judgement that the crime is considered aggravated, as the information was acquired, conveyed, and disclosed with the intent to assist Russia and the Russian intelligence service GRU. The judgement reveals that the criminal activity lasted for ten years and that the acquisition of information occurred when one of the men was employed at the Swedish Security Service from 2014-2015 and the Swedish Armed Forces from 2011-2014.
– This concerns very serious criminality and an employee who grossly abused trust. It is something that must not happen, but which we as a security service know can happen. Security and intelligence services are a prioritised target for foreign powers. The fact that it was the Swedish Security Service that suspected the former employee has allowed us to take measures over a longer period to manage the damage, says the head of the Swedish Security Service, Charlotte von Essen.
The Swedish Security Service further states that the intelligence threat from foreign powers is high. Russia is one of the countries that poses the greatest security threat to Sweden. Every day, attacks and activities are ongoing to steal information to strengthen the interests of their own state. Russia conducts, among other things, cyber espionage and intelligence gathering through human sources as well as other security-threatening activities.
The Swedish Security Service conducted the preliminary investigation under the direction of prosecutors at the National Security Unit.