Reported pro-Russia links raise questions over SD staff vetting
A Sweden Democrat parliamentary staffer is facing questions over reported years of pro-Russian activity and alleged links to organisations serving Russian state interests.
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Expo reports that Polina Malaberg was the previously unidentified “Elena” on a Russian state-financed influence trip in 2017. The investigation cites leaked documents, public records, social-media material and interviews.
Malaberg works as a political official close to Sweden Democrat members of Parliament's Committee on the Constitution. Parties are responsible for assessing their own staff, while the Riksdag can assist with register checks.
Expo says it could not establish what security assessment the party carried out. Malaberg and senior party staff did not answer its questions before publication.
Sveriges Radio reported that the Sweden Democrats said they would examine what the party called serious information. In a later response, party leader Jimmie Åkesson said the party had not known about the claims and that, if true, it would view much of them seriously.
The allegations remain attributed to Expo; DailySweden has not independently verified them.
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