New details have now emerged that give the espionage suspicions surrounding the deceased MFA diplomat a significantly more serious dimension. According to an investigation by Fokus, nude photos of the government’s newly appointed security adviser, Tobias Thyberg, were sent not only to Swedish recipients—but also to Russia. The revelations shed new light on both Thyberg’s swift resignation and the dramatic arrest that ended in tragedy.

On May 8, 2025, former ambassador to Ukraine Tobias Thyberg was presented as the new national security adviser, following Henrik Landerholm being forced out earlier in the year.

But just 33 minutes after the appointment was announced, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s (M) State Secretary Johan Stuart received an email from an anonymous Proton address. The email contained several nude photos of Thyberg, taken from the dating site Grindr. Other top officials and editorial offices also received the same material.

READ MORE: Kristersson’s new security adviser resigns after “sex photos” on dating app

The response in the Government Offices was immediate. Thyberg was suspended before he had even formally started, and shortly thereafter announced he would withdraw from the position. In a written comment, he stated these were “old pictures” from a previous account and that he should have disclosed them during the recruitment process.

The Material Was Sent to Russia

What now changes the picture are Fokus’ new findings. According to the magazine’s investigation, the nude photos were sent not only to Swedish recipients—but also to Russian addresses, including Russian media and representatives of the Russian Duma.

Within the Cabinet Office and at the Security Police, this was seen as an attempt to compromise Sweden’s newly appointed security adviser in front of a foreign power. Once the material reached Russia, the release took on an entirely different security policy weight than just an internal smear campaign.

– When there were Russian recipients, there were obvious reasons to proceed and investigate where the images were sent from and by whom, a source told Fokus.

The Trail Led to a Top Diplomat

The email was signed with the name of a well-known Swedish diplomat, but this person could quickly be ruled out as a suspect. The security investigation instead showed that the Proton account had been created under a false name—but from the Government Offices’ system.

READ MORE: Swedish diplomat arrested on suspicion of espionage

The trail led to another senior, still unnamed, MFA diplomat, who a few days later was arrested at home in central Stockholm in a dramatic operation where the National Task Force forced entry into the residence. The diplomat was detained on probable cause, suspected of espionage.

According to Fokus, it was this diplomat who created the account and forwarded the material—both within Sweden and to Russia.

Speculations Denied

After the arrest, the diplomat spent three days in custody. During this time, rumors began circulating that the intervention was connected to the release of imprisoned journalist Joakim Medin in Turkey a few days later. That theory, however, is completely dismissed by MFA sources.

– That is completely made up. There is no such connection, a source told Fokus.

Released—and Found Dead the Next Day

On May 14, the diplomat was released, subject to a gag order and without being told exactly what the suspicions were. The next day he was found dead. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs confirmed the death, and Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard expressed her condolences.

READ MORE: Diplomat suspected of espionage found dead

Before his death, the diplomat had reported the police for assault and misconduct following his arrest.

Ombudsman Complaint and Continued Silence

The family later filed a complaint with the Parliamentary Ombudsman, describing the arrest as brutal and disproportionate.

“He was held in custody for three days, shocked, scared, despairing, and confused,” they wrote, among other things.

The Prosecutor’s Office, however, dismissed the complaint. Chief Prosecutor Anders Jakobsson determined that the use of force had been “defensible and proportionate” given the espionage suspicions.

Despite this—and despite the diplomat’s death—the preliminary investigation into the suspected espionage is not yet closed. Prosecutor Per Lindqvist declines to comment on whether the investigation is directly linked to Tobias Thyberg’s resignation.

The Parliamentary Ombudsman has ended its review without further action, Fokus reports.