Sweden denies refugee travel document to Russian who fought for Ukraine even though he was granted asylum in 2011
The Swedish Migration Agency has refused to issue a new refugee travel document to Alexey Makarov, a Russian political refugee who fought for Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country. The decision was based on an assessment by the Swedish Security Service (Säpo), which concluded that issuing the document would run counter to national security interests. Makarov has lived in…
In a recent decision, Sweden's Migration Agency denied refugee travel document to Alexey Makarov, a Russian who fought for Ukraine. Despite being granted asylum in Sweden in 2011, Makarov was denied the document due to security concerns raised by the Swedish Security Service (Säpo). The decision, dated September 7, 2026, stated that Makarov's activities abroad threatened national security, preventing him from continuing his fight against the Russian state.
Makarov, who was wounded twice while serving with the Siberian Battalion in Ukraine, believes his denial is linked to his participation in combat on Ukraine's side after Russia's invasion. He challenged the security service's conclusions but was denied the opportunity to travel with a document. The decision has sparked outrage among Swedes, many of whom support Ukraine and find the situation incomprehensible.
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