Hultqvist, citing data, indicated that 152 Russian citizens own 247 properties in the northern part of the country and around Stockholm. He pointed out that some of these facilities are located in the vicinity of strategic companies and military installations. The former minister also emphasized that in many cases purchases were made using false identities.
According to Hultqvist, the Swedish special services SAPO warned against the use of company structures as a cover for intelligence activities by the Russian state. He also added that the police had reported the activities of Russian groups engaged in large-scale economic crime. The parliamentarian proposed that Sweden, following Finland's example, introduce regulations regulating the purchase of land and real estate by foreigners, which would aim to limit Russian investments in this area.
In recent weeks, the media in Sweden has reported cases of real estate purchases by entities linked to Russia. For example, The Russian Orthodox Church has purchased a plot of land near the airport in Vaesteras, about 100 km from Stockholm, for use as a temple.. SAPO then raised the alarm about possible espionage activities carried out in this area. In turn, Russian businessman Stanislav Aleszczenko, associated with the arms industry in his country, bought a plot of land with a villa on Muskoe Island, located near a secret Swedish naval base.
Russian real estate in Sweden. There is a bill
In response to the increasing number of such cases, Sweden's current center-right government is preparing a bill limiting the possibility of purchasing strategically important properties, such as ports or airports. Hultqvist, however, believes that this action is insufficient and more comprehensive solutions are necessary to better protect national interests.
The former defense minister also proposed that Sweden restrict the issuance of tourist visas to Russian citizens, as Finland and the Baltic countries did. He suggests that this could be achieved by lengthening administrative procedures or increasing the number of refusals.
A report published in spring by the Acta Publica organization and the Stockholm Defense University shows that 300 Russian companies operate in Sweden and are linked to 2,133 people associated with Russia. The authors of the analysis warned that these are only a small part of Russian interests in the country.
