Posters appear in Moscow accusing famous Swedes of supporting Nazism
(Reuters) – Posters accusing some of the most famous Swedes of the 20th century of supporting Nazism have appeared on the streets of Moscow as a sign of deteriorating relations between Russia and Sweden as the Nordic country considers joining NATO.
Outside the Swedish embassy, two posters were put up at a bus stop with photographs of the Swedish king Gustaf V, the author Astrid Lindgren, the film director Ingmar Bergman and the IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad, and the message: “We are against Nazism, they are not.”
Reuters saw a third poster with the Swedish figures, who are all now dead, on a major thoroughfare in central Moscow.
Asked about the posters, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ press service said in a statement: “Sweden has no intention of participating in a public polemic with the Russian organization” Vår seger “, which is reportedly behind these posters.”
“In Russia, accusations of ‘Nazism’ have been repeatedly leveled at countries and individuals expressing justified criticism of Russia’s actions,” it added.
The Russian Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Three Moscow commuters at the embassy bus stop told Reuters that they were for the anti-Swedish posters.
“I think the posters are timely in light of recent events,” said 47-year-old Alexandra. “If Europeans consider themselves democratic countries, then I think it is completely democratic to express an alternative opinion and show people a different opinion.”
Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its invasion of Ukraine on February 24 have prompted Sweden and its neighbor Finland to reconsider their security policy, where NATO membership looks increasingly likely.
Sweden’s defense minister said last month that a NATO application could trigger a number of reactions from Russia, including cyber attacks and hybrid measures such as propaganda campaigns.
Moscow says its military campaign in Ukraine is designed to demilitarize and “de-Nazify” the country, something that Kyiv and the West have dismissed as an unfounded pretext to wage an unprovoked war of aggression against a sovereign democratic state.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones)