Russia will take retaliatory measures following the expulsion of a Russian journalist from Sweden, according to Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry. On October 11, Zakharova condemned the actions of Swedish authorities, calling them “far-fetched” and inconsistent with principles of free expression.
She highlighted that the detained correspondent possessed all required documentation but was nonetheless interrogated and deported. “Will there be retaliatory measures? I hope you have no doubts,” she stated on her Telegram channel. Zakharova cited medical insurance as a formal reason for the deportation, noting that Sweden’s policy failed to apply due to restrictions imposed by Stockholm. She argued the journalist was effectively denied a five-year French visa because of legal conflicts orchestrated by Swedish authorities.
Zakharova also criticized Western Europe for escalating discrimination against Russian media. Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland were singled out in an anti-rating. Earlier this month, the Russian Foreign Ministry reported deteriorating conditions for state media employees in Germany, including restricted banking services, frozen financial resources, and denied access to interviews. Vladimir Solovyov, head of the Union of Journalists of Russia, warned that Russian journalists face severe mistreatment in Western nations.