The Attunda District Court in Sweden has upheld the decision on the extradition arrest of former Ukrainian Member of Parliament Dmytro Sviatash, whom the Ukrainian side is demanding to be handed over for criminal prosecution. The detention was applied earlier this week based on Ukraine's request in accordance with Swedish extradition law. According to Ukrainian authorities, the former MP is suspected of a series of crimes allegedly committed on the territory of Ukraine between 2008 and 2018. After reviewing the arguments of both parties, the court confirmed the temporary detention, and Sviatash was sent to a remand prison in Sollentuna, near Stockholm.
Proceedings of the Court Session in Attunda
Dmytro Sviatash himself attended the hearing. A prosecutor from the national unit against international and organized crime asked the court to confirm the former MP's temporary detention, citing Ukraine's request outlining suspicions of crimes committed on Ukrainian territory in 2008–2018. Having reviewed the submitted materials, the court decided to keep the extradition arrest in force. This decision cannot be appealed in the ordinary manner, but within three weeks Sviatash has the right to demand a new court hearing to review the issue of his arrest. In addition, the court intends to notify the Minister of Justice of Sweden about the decision.
Position of the Defense and Intentions of the Ex-MP
Sviatash's lawyer denied the validity of the suspicions raised, opposed the prosecutor's request, and asked for the arrest to be canceled. The defense also disagreed with the claim that there is a risk of flight on the part of the former MP. According to the defense representative, Dmytro Sviatash does not intend to return to Ukraine and insists that he wants to go to Russia. This position essentially determines the further dynamics of the case: the issue of the actual execution of the extradition will depend on the position of the Swedish authorities and the compliance of the Ukrainian side's request with the norms of Swedish and European law.
Circumstances of Detention
According to available data, on October 22, 2026, Dmytro Sviatash was detained in Sweden, where he reportedly arrived to attend a concert by American musician Stevie Wonder. Following the detention, Ukraine sent the Swedish side the documents necessary to consider the extradition issue. Thus, several days passed from the moment of detention to the court's decision confirming the arrest, during which Swedish authorities verified the grounds for the request and applied preventive measures in accordance with national legislation.
Background: 2024 Verdict and Additional Suspicions
Dmytro Sviatash was a Member of Parliament of Ukraine of the 4th to 8th convocations and represented, in particular, the Party of Regions. In 2024, a Ukrainian court found him guilty in absentia of a number of crimes, including justifying Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine, fraudulent seizure of bank funds and property, legalization of illegally obtained property, and public calls for changing the territory's borders of Ukraine. Following this trial, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property. In addition, Sviatash is suspected of high treason and encroachment on the territorial integrity of Ukraine; according to Ukrainian intelligence services, the Kremlin considered him as a potential head of the occupied Kharkiv region if Russian troops captured the area.
What's Next
Attention is now focused on two procedural steps. First, Sviatash has three weeks to request a new court hearing and challenge the arrest. Second, the Swedish court intends to bring its decision to the Minister of Justice, which is part of the procedure for making a final decision on extradition. Until these issues are resolved, the former MP will remain in custody at the Sollentuna remand prison, and his further fate will depend on the position of the Swedish authorities and the outcome of the defense's procedural motions.
