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Billström: Russia conducting misinformation campaign

Russia responsible for a misinformation campaign against Sweden, says the country’s Foreign Minister

Russia is running a misinformation campaign against Sweden, says the country’s Foreign Minister.

“They have done more than 1 million social media sharings of the burning of the Quran”, said Tobias Billström, “We must not allow them to succeed.”

Sweden has seen a number of public burnings of the Quran which have been heavily publicised in many Islamic countries.

Sweden has announced last year it would join Nato following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but a backlash to the burnings by a small number of activists have made the process difficult.

The Swedish government is under mounting global pressure to prevent further protests and is considering changes to laws of public assembly.

“I don't see any quick fixes to this problem,” said Mr Billström.

Earlier this year Turkey’s Foreign Minister criticised Sweden for allowing the burnings to take place and warning the events - along with a supposed softness towards Kurdish militant groups based in Sweden – might affect its willingness to allow the Scandinavian country into Nato.

However Sweden is expected to officially join the military alliance later this year.

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