Swedish citizen indicted for serious war crimes in Syria 2012-2013
The prosecutor has today indicted a 55-year-old Swedish citizen for two cases of serious war crimes during the armed conflict that has been ongoing in Syria since early 2012. The indictment concerns events in Yarmouk, south of the capital Damascus. The prosecutor will be available for media inquiries.
The 55-year-old man is indicted for taking part in a violent attack on a peaceful demonstration on July 13, 2012, during which several civilians were shot dead and others injured.
He is also indicted for manning a checkpoint and participating in the arrest of civilians at the checkpoint during the first half of 2013, in connection with the siege of Yarmouk by the Syrian regime and regime-affiliated armed groups.
The investigation has shown that a large number of civilians were arrested at the checkpoint and handed over to the Syrian security services, resulting in severe suffering and, in several cases, death. The man is alleged to have acted as part of a regime-affiliated armed militia.
“The crime should be considered grave as several individuals were killed, tortured, and subjected to severe suffering and inhuman treatment,” Senior Prosecutor Ulrika Bentelius Egelrud says.
The investigation has entailed extensive cooperation with Germany and several other European countries. A large number of individuals have been interviewed both in Sweden and in other countries.
“The international cooperation has been made possible through support from Eurojust. The UN’s International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria (IIIM) has contributed with their investigation, and we have reviewed reports from UN bodies and several civil society organizations,” Ulrika Bentelius Egelrud says.
Case number in Solna District Court: B 6394-24.
The trial begins on October 20 and is expected to continue until March 2026.
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The Swedish Prosecution Authority takes no side in a conflict. Evidence is the basis upon which the prosecution presents a case and impartiality and fairness are core elements of the investigation.
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Senior Prosecutor Ulrika Bentelius Egelrud is available for media inquiries today, Friday, between 1 and 2 p.m. at +46 10-562 71 31.
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