Dagens Nyheter Slams Swedish Government Offices for Obstructing Henrik Landerholm Investigation

Peter Wolodarski, editor-in-chief of Dagens Nyheter (DN), has sharply criticized the Swedish Government Offices for allegedly delaying and obstructing the investigation into former national security advisor Henrik Landerholm. The controversy stems from an anonymous whistleblower report received in the summer of 2023 that raised security concerns within the agency. DN undertook a thorough inquiry, contacting over 200 individuals and making more than 50 requests for public documents related to the case. However, these requests were met with excessive delays—taking between 30 and 46 days to fulfill—and often required the physical retrieval of printed materials rather than efficient digital delivery.

Wolodarski highlighted the severity of these obstacles by noting that when DN submitted requests using a pseudonym, "Simon," they received the documents within just two days, starkly contrasting with the slowed responses when using their real name. This disparity suggests intentional obstruction geared toward hindering transparency and accountability within the Government Offices. According to DN, the difficulties they encountered far exceeded those experienced during previous investigations into other public agencies.

The investigation centers on Henrik Landerholm, who resigned in January 2023 amid a criminal investigation after he left classified documents in an unlocked safe at a government retreat outside Stockholm. Although Landerholm was acquitted of negligence charges in September, the prosecution has appealed. The handling of this case has also been reported to the Justice Ombudsman for further scrutiny.

Wolodarski’s critique underscores increasing concerns about the government’s transparency and the integrity of its internal investigations, amplifying calls for accountability in how such sensitive cases are managed.