Authority wants to hire company with Russian ties

The Transport Agency is fighting in court to allow Swedish registration plates to be manufactured by a company with ties to the Russian government leadership, according to DN.

» Updated: August 15 2024

» Published: July 30 2024

Authority wants to hire company with Russian ties
Photo: Mickan Mörk/TT

This is about a company that manufactures registration plates and has won a procurement contract with the Transport Agency. The company is a subsidiary of the German company Tönnjes.

However, companies within Tönnjes have, according to the newspaper, ties to the Russian government leadership. Tönnjes' parent company owns 100 percent of the subsidiary, which has won the Transport Agency's procurement contract. They are, in turn, majority owners of the Russian company Znak, which manufactures registration plates.

Znak's founder and major owner, politician Valerij Andrejevitj Ponomarjov, is a member of the Federal Council, the Russian upper house. Since 2022, Valerij Andrejevitj Ponomarjov has been subject to sanctions from the West and is on the EU's sanctions list, as he supports the war in Ukraine.

If the deal goes through, sensitive information about vehicles may end up with the Russian intelligence service, according to defense experts who have spoken to DN.

The Russian intelligence service may gain access to important data on all vehicles in Sweden. The vehicle register contains sensitive information that can be used by the total defense for war-placing critical vehicles, says Per Skoglund, researcher in logistics and head of department at the Defense University, to DN.

The Transport Agency's current supplier has filed an appeal against the award decision with the Administrative Court.

Tags

TTT
By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald under license from TT

More news

Explosion Damages Building in Central
1 MIN READ

Explosion Damages Building in Central Stockholm, No Injuries Reported

Explosion Damages Malmö Apartment Door,
1 MIN READ

Explosion Damages Malmö Apartment Door, No Injuries Reported

Teen Receives Medical Attention After
1 MIN READ

Teen Receives Medical Attention After Dog Bite in Linköping

Man Fined for Explosion Caused
1 MIN READ

Man Fined for Explosion Caused by Attempt to Deep-Fry Chili Cheese

Fire at Gothenburg Refinery Injures
1 MIN READ

Fire at Gothenburg Refinery Injures Three, One Seriously

Climate Activists Arrested on Malmö
1 MIN READ

Climate Activists Arrested on Malmö Airport Runway

Extreme Weather and Viruses Threaten
2 MIN READ

Extreme Weather and Viruses Threaten Global Blood Donation Supply

Riders and Horses Rescued from
1 MIN READ

Riders and Horses Rescued from Bog Near Karlstad Airport

Five Rescued from Burning Fishing
1 MIN READ

Five Rescued from Burning Fishing Boat Near Strömstad

Avalanche Risk High in Swedish
1 MIN READ

Avalanche Risk High in Swedish Mountains: Stay Clear of Steep Slopes

Understanding April's Unpredictable Weather: Insights
2 MIN READ

Understanding April's Unpredictable Weather: Insights from a Meteorologist

Sweden Boosts Egg Exports as
3 MIN READ

Sweden Boosts Egg Exports as Bird Flu Hits Global Supply

Man Jailed for Missing Military
1 MIN READ

Man Jailed for Missing Military Exercise to Care for Children

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Kalmarposten Closes After 35 Years Due to Advertising Revenue Shortfall

Police Probe Possible Link Between
2 MIN READ

Police Probe Possible Link Between Gislaved Shooting and Värnamo Stabbing

Fire at Umeå's Abandoned Industrial
1 MIN READ

Fire at Umeå's Abandoned Industrial Site Extinguished

Police Investigate Gunshot Sounds Near
1 MIN READ

Police Investigate Gunshot Sounds Near Swedish Airbase

Two Arrested in Connection with
1 MIN READ

Two Arrested in Connection with Biskopsgården Double Murder

Man Convicted of Gross Sexual
2 MIN READ

Man Convicted of Gross Sexual Assault for Allowing Child to Touch Genitals

Iran Takes Legal Action Against
1 MIN READ

Iran Takes Legal Action Against Sweden and Others Over 2020 Plane Incident

Two Detained in Södermanland Over
1 MIN READ

Two Detained in Södermanland Over Suspected Fatal Incident

Police Recover Escaped Boys from
1 MIN READ

Police Recover Escaped Boys from Sollefteå Sis Home; Investigation Launched

Care Company Profits Millions from
1 MIN READ

Care Company Profits Millions from Unused Elderly Home Spaces

Convicted Man Escapes Custody During
1 MIN READ

Convicted Man Escapes Custody During Hospital Visit in Sweden

Swedes Evacuated from Gaza Share
1 MIN READ

Swedes Evacuated from Gaza Share Relief and Longing for Home

Police Seek UK Assistance in
1 MIN READ

Police Seek UK Assistance in Örebro Massacre Investigation

Man Dies from Injuries After
1 MIN READ

Man Dies from Injuries After Helsingborg Apartment Fire

Easter Travel Chaos: Multiple Accidents
2 MIN READ

Easter Travel Chaos: Multiple Accidents Cause Major Traffic Disruptions

Teenage Girl Faces Detention Request
1 MIN READ

Teenage Girl Faces Detention Request for Kidnapping in Karlskrona

Two Seniors Killed in Nordanstig
1 MIN READ

Two Seniors Killed in Nordanstig Traffic Collision

Researchers Find Potential Life Indicators
2 MIN READ

Researchers Find Potential Life Indicators on Distant Planet K2-18b

Fraud Suspects Arrested for Double
1 MIN READ

Fraud Suspects Arrested for Double Murder in Ethiopia

Dual Medication Approach Reduces Heart
3 MIN READ

Dual Medication Approach Reduces Heart Attack Risks, Swedish Study Finds

Gothenburg Family Sentenced for Cultivating
1 MIN READ

Gothenburg Family Sentenced for Cultivating and Selling Drug Mushrooms

Woman Hospitalized After Dog Attack
1 MIN READ

Woman Hospitalized After Dog Attack in Tyringe

Vasa Ship's Herring Offers Clues
1 MIN READ

Vasa Ship's Herring Offers Clues on Fish Adaptation to Climate Change