Swedish Intelligence: Russia Is Systematically Distorting Its Economic Statistics

Swedish intelligence: Russia is systematically distorting its economic statistics

The Kremlin is systematically manipulating economic statistics in order to make Ukraine’s Western allies believe that the Russian economy has withstood the pressure of sanctions and military spending, Thomas Nilsson, the head of Sweden’s military intelligence, said in an interview with the Financial Times.

According to him, Russia is understating its budget deficit by 30 billion dollars, while the Central Bank of Russia is underestimating inflation. According to Swedish intelligence, that figure is closer to the key interest rate of 15% than to the official 5.86%.

In addition, Sweden has recorded financial indicators that may point to a future banking crisis, Nilsson said. He did not specify which parameters he meant. Germany’s foreign intelligence service, the BND, agrees with Swedish intelligence on this, the FT writes.

The Russian economy is far from recovery, despite the rise in oil prices caused by the war in the Middle East, Nilsson notes.

@meduzalive