SD official undergoes renewed vetting after partner’s alleged Russia links

Gustav Gellerbrant, head of the Sweden Democrats’ coordination office in the Swedish government offices, has undergone a renewed security vetting after questions were raised about his partner’s alleged links to Russian state actors, SVT News reports.

Party leader Jimmie Åkesson said no government agency had contacted the party to request any action.

The partner is a long-serving Sweden Democrats employee who has held assignments for the party in Parliament’s EU Affairs Committee and Committee on the Constitution. According to the magazine Expo, she is from Russia, has taken part in a Kremlin-sponsored trip to Russia, shared pro-Russian propaganda and attended cultural events linked to Russian state actors.

She has lived with Gellerbrant since 2024. Gellerbrant is responsible for ensuring that the Tidö cooperation between the Sweden Democrats and the government functions.

“There is information that appears very serious and needs to be taken seriously and examined more closely,” Åkesson said.

Sources cited by Expo said Gellerbrant’s position is security classified. Åkesson said Gellerbrant underwent security vetting before being employed by the government offices.

According to Åkesson, Gellerbrant requested a new security vetting after Expo contacted him about its forthcoming report. The process did not result in the party being asked to take any action.

“There does not appear to be any such need,” Åkesson said.

The Swedish Security Service says people in the highest security classes, 1 or 2, must undergo a new security vetting if they enter a new relationship. It is unclear whether Gellerbrant informed the security department of the government offices when he began his relationship with the Sweden Democrats employee.

The Social Democrats have described the situation as a “security crisis” and called for a comprehensive investigation.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has so far said that the Sweden Democrats should dismiss Gellerbrant’s partner if Expo’s information is correct. Regarding Gellerbrant, Kristersson has said only that he has “very great confidence” in the security vetting carried out by the government offices.

SVT was unable to reach Gellerbrant or the Sweden Democrats employee for comment.