Europe Asia News

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson issued a statement on social media regarding incidents of violence that have occurred across different parts of Europe in recent days.

Kristersson said they had been following the events with concern and sadness, noting that peaceful protests had turned into violent clashes, acts of vandalism had occurred in streets and squares, cultural monuments had been damaged, shops had been looted and storefront windows had been smashed.

Drawing attention to the losses suffered by business owners affected by the violence, Kristersson said some had seen businesses they had spent their entire lives building damaged, while others had become direct targets of violence.

Kristersson stressed that the right to demonstrate and peacefully express one's views is fundamental, describing it as one of the cornerstones of every democratic society and a right that must be protected under all circumstances.

Kristersson stated that the wave of indiscriminate violence and destruction witnessed in recent days was fundamentally different from peaceful protest, reflecting a lack of respect for the values and principles underpinning free and open societies.

Stating that violence must never be excused, normalized or downplayed, Kristersson emphasized that the events across Europe demonstrated the importance of maintaining this distinction and that Sweden must also remain vigilant in this regard.