KUALA LUMPUR – Months after the death of Sweden’s former ambassador to Malaysia, Joachim Bergström, unanswered questions linger over the events that shook Stockholm’s political and diplomatic circles earlier this year.
Although the episode involved high-profile resignations and espionage allegations, many details about Bergström’s death and the wider investigation remain unclear, with much of the scandal receiving little public attention.
Bergström was found dead in his apartment in Sweden on May 15, just two days after being released from police custody.
His death came amid an inquiry into the leak of compromising photographs of a national security advisor, a revelation that prompted the advisor’s immediate resignation.
The scandal unfolded in the wake of Prime Minister Henrik Landerholm stepping down over allegations of mishandling sensitive documents, including leaving classified materials in a hotel and a phone at the Hungarian embassy.
Bergström’s diplomatic career spanned multiple high-profile postings. He served as Sweden’s ambassador to Malaysia from August 2021 and previously held posts in North Korea (2019–2021), to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and as ambassador for intercultural and interreligious dialogue (2017–2019). A historian, clinical psychologist, and former journalist, he had also worked with media outlets in Sweden, Japan, and the United States.
The May events resembled a political thriller. On May 8, Tobias Thyberg, former ambassador to Ukraine, was appointed Sweden’s National Security Advisor, only to resign hours later after intimate photographs he had shared on Grindr years earlier surfaced. The account had been closed prior to his appointment following recommendations from the Foreign Ministry.
“I should have reported this, but I didn’t. That’s why I have announced that I do not intend to take on the role of national security adviser,” Thyberg said.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson criticised the former diplomat, saying, “Deliberately avoiding mentioning things that could be considered compromising or that could be discovered by a foreign power simply goes against all the rules. This cannot be done.”
The scandal deepened when Swedish intelligence services arrested Bergström over alleged espionage connected to the leaked photographs.
Bergström denied the accusations, calling the arrest “a terrifying experience,” and filed a complaint against police for assault and misconduct after authorities forcibly entered his apartment. He was released on May 14, only to be found dead two days later.
In recent years, Swedish authorities have voiced rising concerns over threats from foreign powers, including Russia, China, and Iran, as well as groups engaged in a spectrum of hostile activities—from violent attacks and hybrid warfare to corporate espionage.
In March, the nation’s intelligence services issued warnings that these actors were increasingly employing hybrid tactics aimed at destabilising Sweden.”
Swedish police have said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death, but investigations remain shrouded in uncertainty. To date, officials have provided no updates on the progress of the inquiry or whether it is still ongoing.
The episode has sparked debates over privacy, security, and accountability in Sweden. Observers question whether some resignations were driven by public moral panic or prejudice rather than clear threats to national security.
Among those remembering Bergström was former Malaysian Senator Datuk Dr Ras Adiba Radzi, who posted a video of herself singing an ABBA song on Facebook shortly after learning of his death.
“Brilliant, professional, bubbly, and kind, him leaving this world has left many of us in tears. You will be so missed, Joachim. Thank you for all that you are. Gone too soon but will always be remembered fondly, especially by all of us in the diplomatic corps. Here’s an ABBA number as a parting gift. May you rest in the most beautiful Shangri-la of the Heavens,” she wrote.
Months later, Bergström’s death continues to cast a shadow over Sweden’s diplomatic circles.
The lack of clarity on the investigation and the unanswered questions surrounding the scandal leave many wondering how these events may have shaped the careers of those involved—and what lessons remain for Sweden’s national security and diplomatic community. – December 11, 2025