Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jul 21, 2025

Swedish brothers charged as spies for Russia

Swedish brothers charged as spies for Russia

Two brothers have been charged in Sweden with spying for Russia over a period of 10 years, prosecutors have announced.
Both are reported to have worked for security services, and one was a senior manager at a government agency when arrested last year.

Investigators have seized mobile phones, a smashed hard drive and notes detailing cash and gold transactions.

The suspects deny any wrongdoing, their defense lawyers have told local media.

Peyman Kia, 42, and Payam Kia, 35, are believed to have worked together to pass on information to Russia’s military intelligence service, the GRU.

The men were arrested in late 2021 and have been in custody ever since.

While both are accused of aggravated espionage, Peyman Kia has also been charged with the gross unauthorized handling of secret information.

The chief prosecutor of Sweden’s National Security Unit, Per Lindqvist, described the case as very difficult to investigate, adding the men were suspected of “highly serious criminality targeted at Sweden’s intelligence and security system”.

The secret information — which could result in “detriment to Sweden’s security” in the hands of a foreign power, according to Lindqvist — was reportedly gathered while the older Kia was employed at Sweden’s security services and army.

Newspaper Dagens Nyheter said the suspect also served in the Office for Special Acquisition (KSI), a top-secret organ of the country’s intelligence services.

When arrested last November, Peyman Kia was reportedly a security chief at the Swedish Food Agency.

During Peyman’s arrest, his younger brother Payam “dismantled and broke a hard drive that was later found in a bin”, according to the charges.

Payam is thought to have managed contact with Russia and the GRU including “matters of surrender of information and receipt of compensation”.

Much of the information from the preliminary investigation has not been released due to its sensitive nature.

The older Kia’s defense lawyer, Anton Strand, told Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT the charges were imprecise and lacked “concrete” descriptions of his client’s alleged crimes.

Björn Sandin, defending the younger suspect, similarly suggested the charges demonstrated that prosecutors were “not entirely confident” about their claims, according to TV4.

If convicted, the brothers may be handed life sentences — generally a minimum of 20-25 years in prison in Sweden.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Russia Formally Recognizes Taliban Government in Afghanistan
Mediators Edge Closer to Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Agreement
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Trump Asserts Readiness for Further Strikes on Iran Amid Nuclear Tensions
Iran's Parliament Votes to Suspend Cooperation with Nuclear Watchdog
Trump Announces Upcoming US-Iran Meeting Amid Controversial Airstrikes
Trump Moves to Reshape Middle East Following Israel-Iran Conflict
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
Explosions Rock Doha as Iranian Missiles Target Qatar
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Oman Set to Introduce Personal Income Tax, First in Gulf
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
G7 Leaders Fail to Reach Consensus on Key Global Issues
Mass exodus in Tehran as millions try to flee following Trump’s evacuation order
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
×