Sweden Democrats' Local Politician in Skåne Spreads Pro-Russian Narratives Amid Ukraine Conflict

A Sweden Democrats (SD) politician in Skåne, Barbara Åberg, who serves on the Skurup municipal council and in other local government roles, has been found disseminating pro-Russian content and conspiracy theories on social media, according to investigations by Expo and reports from Omni and Aftonbladet. Her statements and online activity directly contradict the official stance of the Sweden Democrats, prompting the party's local leadership to distance themselves from her views.

Åberg has expressed frustration over the Ukraine conflict, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj as being "appointed by a gangster" and claiming that Ukraine is engaged in a proxy war controlled by NATO and the USA since 2014. She alleges widespread corruption involving Zelenskyj and accuses Europe and the USA of aggressive warmongering against Russia. Posts in a Facebook group called "Russia is our friends" include Åberg stating, "I am ashamed to be Swedish," criticizing European leaders and sanction policies against Russia as unjust.

Her social media also features scepticism toward vaccines, sharing content from the far-right website Swebbtv, and derogatory comments about Swedish Social Minister Jakob Forssmed, whom she labeled an "idiot" for his vaccination policies aimed at the elderly. Furthermore, Åberg attended a far-right conference featuring extremist figures, revealing connections that deepen concerns over her political alignment.

Despite repeated attempts to obtain comments from Åberg, she has not responded to inquiries. The local Sweden Democrats group leader, Lars Nyström, has publicly distanced the party from her views, emphasizing that her opinions do not represent the party.

This case highlights tensions within Swedish politics where local SD politicians promote narratives aligned with Russian propaganda during the Ukraine war, challenging both domestic political coherence and broader Swedish policy on the conflict.