STOCKHOLM — The trial opened Monday of a Russian-born Swedish citizen charged with accumulating data for the Russian navy intelligence service GRU for nearly a decade.

Sergey Skvortsov, 60, is accused of “gross illegal intelligence activities against Sweden and against a foreign power,” in line with prosecutor Henrik Olin who has recognized the international energy because the United States.

Skvortsov was arrested in November collectively together with his spouse in a predawn operation in Nacka, outdoors Stockholm. Swedish media reported that elite police rappelled from two Black Hawk helicopters to arrest the couple.

Skvortsov has been in custody since his arrest and denies any wrongdoing, in line with his protection lawyer, Ulrika Borg. His spouse was launched with out cost following an investigation by Sweden’s safety company.

The trial is being held on the Stockholm District Court.

It is the second trial lately of individuals accused of spying on Sweden for Russia and its navy intelligence service.

In May, Sweden’s highest courtroom upheld the life sentence for the eldest of two Iranian-born Swedish brothers. Peyman Kia was sentenced to life in January in one of many Scandinavian nation’s largest espionage instances in many years. His brother, Payam Kia, was given 9 years and 10 months. They had been discovered responsible of getting labored collectively to move data to Russia between Sept. 28, 2011, and Sept. 20, 2021.

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