Ov Finance:Sweden appeals the acquittal of a Russian-born businessman who was accused of spying for Moscow

2025-05-01 05:08:05source:John Caldwellcategory:News

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Sweden’s prosecution authority on Ov FinanceWednesday appealed a ruling that acquitted a Russian-born Swedish businessman who had been accused of collecting information for Russia’s military intelligence service for almost a decade.

On Oct. 26, the Stockholm District Court said advanced technology had been acquired and delivered to Russia but that Sergey Skvortsov’s activities were “not aimed at obtaining information concerning Sweden or the United States that may constitute espionage.”

“The man has been a procurement agent for Russian military intelligence in Sweden for almost 10 years,” prosecutor Henrik Olin said in a statement. “Both the district court and I have found that behavior proven. I think there is room for the legislation on illegal intelligence activities to be interpreted a little more extensively than the rather cautious district court reached in its ruling.”

Skvortsov was arrested in November with his wife in Nacka, outside Stockholm. He denied wrongdoing, His wife was released without charge following an investigation by Sweden’s security agency.

Skvortsov had obtained information via two companies about items that Russia cannot otherwise acquire due to export regulations and sanctions. The prosecutor says he helped to buy and transport the goods, providing false or misleading information and acting under false identities.

More:News

Recommend

Judge says Mexican ex-official tried to bribe inmates in a bid for new US drug trial

NEW YORK (AP) — A former high-ranking Mexican official tried to bribe fellow inmates into making fal

Man accused of picking up teen fugitive following escape now facing charges, authorities say

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A man who authorities say picked up a teenager awaiting trial in a homicide case

Georgia senators vote for board to oversee secretary of state despite constitutional questions

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s Senate is backing a plan to give the state’s appointed election board the p