A Russian-born Swedish businessman has been acquitted of accumulating info for Russia’s army intelligence service, the GRU, for nearly a decade
ByThe Related Press
October 26, 2023, 6:08 AM
STOCKHOLM — A Russian-born Swedish businessman was acquitted on Thursday of accumulating info for Russia’s army intelligence service, the GRU, for nearly a decade.
Sergey Skvortsov, 60, had been accused of “ gross unlawful intelligence actions in opposition to Sweden and in opposition to a international energy,” particularly the US.
The Stockholm District Courtroom stated Skvortsov had largely acted in the best way prosecutors alleged and that superior expertise was acquired and delivered to Russia.
However the court docket stated in its verdict “that the enterprise (was) solely meant for the procurement of expertise from the West and never geared toward acquiring info regarding Sweden or the US that will represent espionage.”
Choose Jakob Hedenmo stated in a press release that the prosecutor was unable to show that Skvortsov was concerned in espionage.
Skvortsov was arrested in November collectively together with his spouse in a predawn operation in Nacka, outdoors Stockholm. Swedish media reported that elite police rappelled from two Black Hawk helicopters to arrest the couple.
On Oct. 9, the Stockholm District Courtroom stated that Skvortsov was launched forward of a verdict in his trial, which ended Sept. 28, saying “there isn’t a longer cause to maintain the defendant in custody.”
Skvortsov had denied any wrongdoing, His spouse was launched with out cost following an investigation by Sweden’s safety company.
In accordance with the prosecutor, Skvortsov had obtained info through two corporations about gadgets that Russia can not in any other case purchase attributable to export laws and sanctions.
He then helped to purchase and transport the products, deceptive suppliers by offering false or deceptive info and appearing underneath false identities.