Prime Minister Stefan Löfven (S): We are not going to fall for this kind of threat

Despite threats from the Chinese Embassy, ​​Swedish PEN's Tucholsky Prize will be awarded to Swedish-Chinese publisher Gui Minhai, by Culture Minister Amanda Lind (MP).

- The Minister of Culture will distribute the prize. She has been given that question and answered yes and it is clear that we are keeping it. We are not going to fall for this kind of threat. Never. We have freedom of speech in Sweden and that is the point, point, says Stefan Löfven in an interview with SVT's Agenda.

Gui Minhai worked as a publisher of regime-critical literature in Hong Kong and was detained by the Chinese authorities over four years ago. China is accusing him of a traffic violation that should have happened in 2003, but so far no trial has taken place.

The Chinese Embassy criticized the awards ceremony already last week, but went further on Friday. The Chinese Swedish Ambassador threatened with consequences for Sweden and the Swedish government if they were to attend the awards ceremony.

Will you take it any further and mark against the ambassador's statement?

- We have to think about that. First, we will see what possible consequences this can have. But we stand up for freedom of expression in Sweden. That's how Sweden is built and that's how we should have it, says Stefan Löfven.