Sweden's intelligence authorities suspect a Russian Orthodox church of being involved in hybrid warfare activities. Local politicians in the city of Vasteras raised the alarm — but religious freedom is precious in Sweden.
00:01Why would the Russian nuclear agency Rosatom be financing this church's construction on Swedish soil?
00:09Even before the Church of the Holy Mother of God of Kazan was built in Westeros,
00:14those looking closely at its foundation had questions.
00:18Hybrid war researcher Patrick Oksanen, then a journalist, started investigating along with a colleague.
00:24So were Swedish authorities.
00:26During the process of getting the building permit and all this,
00:31the Swedish security police sent a warning to the municipality and said,
00:35hey, this is not a good idea.
00:37It is very close to the airport and it's a strategic airport with a tower that is high
00:42that could be used theoretically to put electronics.
00:46A priest that is a former CEO convicted of book frauding and money laundering.
00:52It is definitely a tool for Russian foreign influence.
00:57There were also red flags in the permit process,
01:00but ultimately city authorities granted all necessary permission.
01:04Westeros city councilor Elizabeth Unel tried to sound the alarm then,
01:08but says in 2019 it was impossible to convince her fellow council members
01:13to block the church's plans due to concerns about the Kremlin.
01:17We were naive. Everybody was naive. I think we couldn't think that this would be a question.
01:25Sweden prizes freedom of religion highly and the government financially supports multiple faiths.
01:31But in 2023, the organization that allocates those funds got a pointed warning about the Westeros church.
01:38The security police in their statement says that there was actions or there was activities where the churches belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchy conducted intelligence gathering or kind of activities in them.
01:59The agency decided to cut off funds to the parish.
02:02Our decisions do not infringe upon your right to actually practice religion.
02:08So that you can still do freely in Sweden.
02:10But if the state is supposed to give you grants,
02:13then of course you have to be aligned with the Swedish state's values.
02:17Russia's ambassador to Sweden Sergei Believ says this is all part of an anti-Kremlin campaign
02:23and will hurt worshippers as this is Sweden's only Russian Orthodox Church.
02:28It was not their choice where to build the church. It was given to them.
02:35Now some politicians and journalists say that the church is a danger for security because it is too close to the airport.
02:46Well, you know, it's a little bit ridiculous because first they give this place to build the church.
02:55Then they speak that no, it's too dangerous.
03:00Elizabeth Unel acknowledges it was the city's mistake.
03:03But after Russia's full scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she had renewed determination to correct it.
03:10In June, the city council unanimously agreed to her proposal to ask the Swedish government for permission to take back the land.
03:19It's not the problem with the church.
03:21It's not the problem to have a Russian Orthodox Church in the right place.
03:26But it shouldn't be 300 meters from our airport. That's the big problem.
03:30Not everyone shares that perspective.
03:32Andreas Nykvist, an air traffic controller at the Vesteros airport, shrugs off the notion that the church's proximity
03:39might be used for surveillance.
03:42It's about 800 meters from the strip, the runway, to the church.
03:47It's surrounded by trees. So visually, I don't think they can see a lot of what's going on.
03:54You can see probably more just going next to the airfield and just look at it.
03:59But some neighbors are nonetheless on edge.
04:02This man didn't want to be identified, but he did want to share his concerns.
04:07You have three or four.
04:09I don't think they should be here. They can have a church. I'm no problem with that, but not here.
04:15But here it's too strategic to have it.
04:17We asked the church leadership for an interview many times, but received no answer.
04:22Followers arriving for Sunday services also ignored our requests, except for one.
04:28Only this young man, whose identity we're protecting, would speak, telling us the allegations are false
04:34and he hopes the council's attempt fails.
04:37The church is keeping this community together.
04:40I'm always going to be proud that I'm going to this church and I will always protect it, you know, stand here and speak up for it.
04:48But it seems the feeling isn't mutual. After speaking to DW, the young man was barred from attending Sunday services while others were allowed in.
04:57This behavior just adds to other signs this may not be a typical place of worship, but it would be difficult to prove.
05:05The Swedish authorities are not allowed to eavesdrop on the church in the Swedish law.
05:11Amid rising security concerns, Elisabeth Unel wants other communities to avoid Westeros' missteps.
05:19Everybody in Sweden and all over Europe, everybody should think about places that are of national interest for security.
05:28And she hopes the Swedish government is quick to give its blessing to make the church move.
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