Swedish Authorities Investigate ROC Parish in Västerås over Alleged Intelligence Links

Swedish authorities are conducting an investigation into the activities of the Russian Orthodox Church in the city of Västerås. According to the Swedish Security Service (SAPO), the parish may allegedly be involved in hybrid warfare methods and connected to Russian intelligence operations. This was reported in a journalistic investigation by France24, cited by Euronews.

Investigators drew attention to the location of the church, which lies less than 300 meters from Stockholm-Västerås Airport. Since Sweden joined NATO, the airport has become a strategic site for Alliance training exercises. The church building itself reportedly violates local construction rules: its spire is 22 meters high, whereas the permitted height in the area is no more than 10 meters.

SAPO noted that it had initially attempted to halt the construction due to security concerns, but the project went ahead despite the warnings.

The investigation also claims that the church’s rector, Father Pavel Makarenko, simultaneously headed NC Nordic Control AB, a company allegedly involved in Russian import-export business activities.

City officials are now considering the unprecedented step of expropriating the church building, citing «a threat to national security.»

Previously, we reported that Metropolitan Anthony of Volokolamsk, Chairman of the Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church, spoke about the difficulties the ROC delegation faced while trying to present information about the persecution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church during the Central Committee session of the World Council of Churches (WCC). According to him, certain Protestant denominations actively obstructed the discussion, claiming that the facts presented by the ROC were allegedly unsubstantiated.