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On June 21, Swedish police arrested a 56-year-old Estonian citizen kayaking near the Musko naval base in the Stockholm archipelago. She is suspected of photographing military facilities and unlawfully entering restricted areas.
Estonian news portal Delfi reports, that during a preliminary hearing in Huddinge on June 24, Zaira was formally charged under Swedish laws prohibiting unauthorized photography and access to protected sites. Prosecutor Julia Tibäck told Swedish newspaper Expressen that base guards spotted Zaira taking photos with her phone, prompting them to alert the police.
Authorities currently have no evidence linking Zaira to any foreign intelligence service.
At the hearing, Zaira admitted to entering the area and taking pictures but denied any criminal intent or gross negligence. She also challenged the necessity of her detention, calling it disproportionate.
Zaira will remain in custody until trial. Prosecutor Tibäck justified the detention by citing flight risk: Zaira is not a Swedish citizen and doesn’t reside in the country. While again noting no espionage link, Tibäck acknowledged concerns were heightened due to Zaira’s foreign citizenship.
Zaira’s lawyer, Sanna Älgekrans, said her client was shocked by the arrest and didn’t expect such serious consequences. Asked whether Zaira’s nationality may have influenced suspicions, Älgekrans replied, “Yes, clearly. The current climate likely played a role.”
However, she stopped short of calling it discrimination. She declined to reveal what exactly appeared in Zaira’s photographs, citing confidentiality.
Zaira reportedly works as an engineer near Tallinn and has long been active in endurance and adventure sports. Her social media shows she attended high school in the former Kazakh SSR and studied at Leningrad Polytechnic. Her next court hearing is scheduled for no later than the morning of July 1.
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During the Cold War, Sweden made substantial investments in defense to prepare for a potential Soviet attack. One of the most ambitious undertakings was the Musko Naval Base — an underground installation with shipyards and docking facilities designed to accommodate submarines and destroyers — located on the island of Musko.
To connect the island to the mainland, the Swedish Navy constructed the Musko Tunnel, a 1.9-mile (3 km) passage running approximately 230 feet (70 meters) beneath the water’s surface.
In 2004, the base was decommissioned following a government decision to consolidate naval operations at Sweden’s two remaining major bases.
However, in response to increased regional tensions — particularly following Russia’s annexation of Crimea — the Swedish Navy began reinvesting in the base. In autumn 2019, the Swedish naval command reestablished its headquarters at Musko, and by early 2020 the base was confirmed to be fully reactivated.
Built into island rock between 1950 and 1969, the facility includes docks, a military hospital, and can accommodate up to 2,000 people.