President Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday accused Sweden of sheltering suspected militants as Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt visited Moscow in an attempt to repair ties between the countries.
Medvedev apparently was referring to men whom the government believes fought federal troops during two wars in Chechnya.
“If we speak about the North Caucasus, there's one more problem that I told the prime minister about,” Medvedev said at a news conference after the leaders held talks. “It's the bandits that, unfortunately, have found shelter in Sweden.”
Medvedev said he hoped that Russian and Swedish law enforcement officials would discuss the situation under a cooperation agreement that their prosecutors signed Tuesday.
In one failed extradition case, Sweden's Supreme Court turned down a request from Russia to send Aslan Adayev, who is wanted for crimes including terrorism, back home for a trial in 2008. Adayev has denied wrongdoing.
Reinfeldt's visit was the first by a Swedish head of state since 2000, a sign that relations between the two countries are on the upturn after a decade in the doldrums. Sweden granted permission late last year for Gazprom-led Nord Stream to build a gas pipeline through its waters.
On Tuesday, Russia and Sweden also agreed to draft a plan to cooperate in raising energy efficiency in Russia and work together in space research, health care, social security, culture and arts.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.