Russian intelligence was preparing a campaign to destabilize the process of joining NATO on the eve of approval of membership in the Alliance.
Russia planned to prevent Finland and Sweden from joining NATO.
This is stated in the intelligence report, which is referred to by the editorial team of investigative journalism Yle MOT.
According to journalists, Russian intelligence was preparing a campaign, in particular with the organization of protests and demonstrations.
“The plan became known from a memorandum drawn up by a Russian intelligence officer. As a result of the leak, the document ended up in the Dossier Center for Investigative Journalism,” journalists write.
What does the Russian intelligence document say?
The intelligence plan says violent protests in Sweden following the burning of the Koran have increased fear of Islam in EU countries. The document calls for further escalation of this tension.
The goal was to increase friction between Turkey, as well as European countries and NATO.
The Finnish Security Police confirm that they knew about Russian intelligence plans to incite demonstrations in Finland as well. The Finnish Security Intelligence Service (SUPO) does not comment on further operational activities.
At the same time, as journalists write, in the documents received by the MOT editorial office, there is no indication that Russia has actually implemented its plans in Finland.
To recap, in late November 2023, Turkey informed NATO that ratification of Sweden's membership application would not be completed in time to allow an accession ceremony to take place at the alliance's foreign ministers' meetings.
And in October, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan invited parliament to consider Sweden's application for NATO membership . He signed the corresponding protocol.
Then the Hungarian parliament rejected a proposal to hold a vote on ratifying Sweden's application to join NATO.
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