Sweden provisionally detains ex-Ukrainian politician wanted in Ukraine

Swedish authorities have provisionally detained former Ukrainian politician Dmytro Sviatash, who faces allegations of economic crimes and treason in Ukraine, SVT reports.

Expressen reported that Sviatash was stopped at passport control at Stockholm Arlanda Airport while travelling to a Stevie Wonder concert in Stockholm. He was detained by border police on October 22. The stated reason was a recently issued Polish ban on his return to the Schengen area.

After a district court hearing on Thursday, Sviatash was placed in provisional detention, a measure used to give another country time to prepare a formal extradition request. He can be held for up to 40 more days while Sweden awaits further information from Ukraine. The Swedish Prosecution Authority is also examining whether extradition can proceed.

Sviatash’s lawyer, Henrik Olsson Lilja, said a Supreme Court ruling from three years ago found that extradition to Ukraine should not take place because of the war and conditions there. Sviatash denies the allegations. His lawyer described the case as political and said his client is in opposition to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Sviatash served in Ukraine’s parliament for nearly 20 years and was among the country’s wealthiest people. He fled to Russia in 2019 after authorities opened an investigation into embezzlement. In 2023, he was formally accused of treason, including providing information to Russia and expressing support for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

A Ukrainian court sentenced him in absentia to 12 years in prison in 2024, and he became internationally wanted. However, Interpol later lifted its notice after the verdict was appealed, according to Ukrainian outlet Radio Svoboda.

Tags: Sweden, Ukraine, extradition