The investigation into the 'FRA woman,' a former employee of Sweden's National Defence Radio Establishment, is nearing its conclusion, with potential charges for national security violations. Despite being released from custody, she lost her job and security clearance. Her husband, initially implicated, has been cleared of all charges.
FRA Employee Faces Imminent Charges for National Security Breach
Sources: 'FRA Woman' to Be Charged with National Security Offense
The Security Service's investigation into the 'FRA woman' is nearing its end. The woman and her husband were arrested under dramatic circumstances nearly two years ago. She was employed at the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA) and was an expert on Russia. After months of silence from the Security Service, a decision on charges is imminent.
- 'It is likely that charges for national security offenses will be filed,' a source told Expressen.
Several sources confirm, without wanting to be quoted, that the investigation is concluding, and the suspicions have not been dismissed.
The woman has undergone new interrogations with the Security Service.
However, investigators have struggled to substantiate the suspicions that led to the intervention in the fall of 2023. The investigation has continued, delving deeper into areas where the woman had contact with classified documents. The exact nature of the suspicions remains classified. Early court documents indicate the suspected crime period is from May 1, 2023, until the arrest.
A person close to the family describes it as 'indescribable suffering' for the woman to live in uncertainty month after month about whether charges will be filed.
The woman and her husband, Lieutenant Colonel Johan Huovinen, were both arrested at their home during a dawn raid by the Security Service on October 17, 2023, and were detained three days later. The suspicion was 'gross unauthorized handling of classified information.' Both denied the charges during the detentions in Stockholm District Court. The woman has continued to deny any wrongdoing throughout the investigation.
Johan Huovinen, a teacher at the Department of War Studies at the Swedish Defence University, was frequently featured in the media as an expert commenting on Russia's war in Ukraine at the time of the arrest. He was thus referred to as the 'top military officer' in the media after the arrests. His wife was called the 'FRA woman' because she was employed at the signal intelligence agency, the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA), where she was an expert in the Russian language with an analytical role in the Russian sphere.
After nearly two months in custody, the couple was released on December 13, 2023. The suspicions against Johan Huovinen diminished over time, and in September last year, the investigation against him was closed. He then returned to his position at the Swedish Defence University. The suspicions were completely dismissed, and the Chancellor of Justice awarded him 49,000 kronor in compensation for his time in custody.
'FRA Woman' Forced Out of Job
For the 'FRA woman,' the investigation continued. She also lost her job despite no charges being in sight. Her employer, FRA, revoked her security clearance following a decision by the security protection chief, Åsa Nilsson.
- 'The condition for working at FRA is that you can be placed in a security-classified position. If you are not, you cannot work at FRA,' said communications chief Ola Billger to Expressen.
She was then bought out for approximately half a million kronor.
Johan Huovinen says he has not heard anything about the investigation against his wife nearing its end.
- 'But I hope it will be like for me, that the suspicions are dismissed,' he says.
When the suspicions against Johan Huovinen were dismissed, prosecutor Mats Ljungqvist stated that 'some things remain to be investigated' regarding his wife. In December, the district court was informed that a decision on charges would likely come before mid-year.
Mats Ljungqvist does not want to comment on the investigation or whether the suspicions against the woman have changed during the investigation period.
What is happening now is that the preliminary investigation protocol is being compiled and sent for notification to the 'FRA woman' and her defense attorney, Kristofer Stahre, who will have the opportunity to object to the investigation. Only then will the formal decision be made on whether she will be charged.
Several of Expressen's sources indicate that she 'is likely to be charged,' citing that 'the investigation looks as it does.'
Expressen has sought defense attorney Kristofer Stahre.