Former MP Dmytro Sviatash, tried in absentia in Ukraine, detained in Sweden

Former MP Dmytro Sviatash, tried in absentia in Ukraine, detained in Sweden
Former MP Dmytro Sviatash, tried in absentia in Ukraine, detained in Sweden

Detention at border control

Swedish police have taken former Ukrainian People's Deputy Dmytro Sviatash into custody. The incident was reported by the publication Expressen. According to the journalists, the 55-year-old politician, who was previously considered one of the wealthiest citizens of Ukraine, entered Sweden from Russian territory.

"Колишнього українського політика, засудженого до 12 років позбавлення волі в Україні, заарештувала поліція Швеції. 55-річний Дмитро Святаш був одним із найбагатших людей України, але втік до Росії. Зараз він перебуває під вартою шведської міграційної ради", – сказано в повідомленні. (The former Ukrainian politician, sentenced to 12 years in prison in Ukraine, was arrested by Swedish police. 55-year-old Dmytro Sviatash was one of the richest people in Ukraine, but fled to Russia. He is now in the custody of the Swedish Migration Board, the statement reads.)

According to media reports, the purpose of the trip was a concert by American musician Stevie Wonder. The detention occurred during passport control: Swedish border authorities stopped the citizen. Although Sviatash holds dual citizenship — of the Russian Federation and Ukraine — journalists note that he presented his Ukrainian document at the border.

Reasons for the entry ban

According to the detainee's lawyer, the official grounds for the refusal of entry were a decision by Poland to impose a re-entry ban in September 2026. This ban was integrated into the joint database of Schengen Area countries. Meanwhile, the lawyer considers this decision to be politically motivated.

Outcome of the court proceedings in Ukraine

In 2024, a court handed down a verdict regarding the People's Deputy of the IV–VIII convocations. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison with the confiscation of property. The charges related to calls to change Ukraine's borders, the legalization of assets, and committing fraud in the amount of 2.2 billion hryvnia.

The trial took place in the absence of the accused himself, who has been in Russia since 2019, but with the participation of his defence lawyer. The prosecution proved that during 2022, the convicted individual published posts on his social media page on Facebook containing narratives about the absence of armed aggression against Ukraine and the legality of the occupation of its territories. The publications also contained calls for residents of temporarily occupied regions to engage in collaborationist activities and cooperate with Russian banks.

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