Sweden’s intelligence service is warning “foreign powers” could try and meddle in the Nordic nation’s upcoming general election, singling out Russia in light of alleged interference in the last US vote.
However, the Swedish Security Service (Sapo), which is responsible for tackling espionage and terrorism, says in an annual report that Sweden’s “robust” and “decentralized” electoral system is tough to influence.
Sweden’s parliament in Stockholm, file (CC-BY-SA Holger Ellgaard/Wikipedia)
“It cannot be ruled out that certain foreign powers will take advantage of the Swedish election campaign to enhance conflicts in Swedish society and attempt to weaken the democratic system,” says Sapo head Anders Thornberg in the document.
“Russian espionage constitutes the greatest security threat” against non-NATO member Sweden, Sapo warns, adding that a third of Russian diplomats in the country are spies.
— AFP
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