The Swedish government is proposing amendments to the Expropriation Act to allow the State Treasury to forcibly take over properties owned by Russian citizens near military facilities. This action aims to counter threats such as sabotage, intelligence-gathering, and espionage, particularly from Russia, as warned by Western intelligence and Swedish authorities. The inquiry is chaired by a senior judge of the Court of Appeal and will report by March 2027. The move follows past incidents including a Kremlin-linked oligarch owning property near a secret naval base on Muskö Island and recent reports of the Russian Orthodox Church acquiring property near Västerås Airport, which Swedish intelligence links to espionage activities. Former Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist noted that 152 Russian citizens own 247 properties in northern Sweden and around Stockholm close to strategic companies and military facilities.

The Swedish government is proposing amendments to the Expropriation Act to allow the State Treasury to forcibly take over properties owned by Russian citizens near military facilities. This action aims to counter threats such as sabotage, intelligence-gathering, and espionage, particularly from Russia, as warned by Western intelligence and Swedish authorities. The inquiry is chaired by a senior judge of the Court of Appeal and will report by March 2027. The move follows past incidents including a Kremlin-linked oligarch owning property near a secret naval base on Muskö Island and recent reports of the Russian Orthodox Church acquiring property near Västerås Airport, which Swedish intelligence links to espionage activities. Former Defense Minister Peter Hultqvist noted that 152 Russian citizens own 247 properties in northern Sweden and around Stockholm close to strategic companies and military facilities.