Global Citizens Comment on the Detention of a Swedish Citizen in the Russian Federation

Global Citizens expresses serious concern over the detention in the Pskov region of a Swedish citizen who, according to information released by the Russian side, identified himself as Freddy Mikael Stålkrantz Lindholm.

In this regard, Global Citizens calls on the Russian authorities to provide the Swedish side without delay with comprehensive information on the circumstances of and legal grounds for the detention, ensure the detainee’s safety and humane treatment, and provide him with the necessary medical care. Global Citizens underscores that the detainee must not be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, or compelled to testify or make a false confession.

Global Citizens draws attention to the need to respect the law and uphold all applicable procedural safeguards, including the right to legal and consular assistance and to judicial review of the lawfulness of detention.

Global Citizens maintains that the detainee’s rights must be upheld, his dignity respected, and his access to justice guaranteed, regardless of the state of relations between Russia and Sweden.

Global Citizens expresses its support for the detainee’s family and loved ones in the present circumstances.

Note: This comment by the International Movement Global Citizens will be formally transmitted to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Sweden and the Embassy of Sweden in the Russian Federation for their information.