RÅ believes that prosecutors should treat all media equally

After the magazine published an article about Anna Asklöf in connection with the 2018 election, when she was running for the moderates to the Eskilstuna City Council, the relationship became frosty, which Eskilstuna-Kuriren reported on. The newspaper had reviewed what Asklöf shared and commented on social media about immigration issues and migration policy.

Now Asklöf's actions have been examined by the National Prosecutor at the Prosecutor's Office. From the investigation it appears that after the magazine's publication, she chose to answer questions from other media in criminal investigations where she was a preliminary investigator, but did not speak for Eskilstuna-Kuriren.

"It is a huge problem for the public because after our review she refused to talk to reporters with reference to our review of her," says Eva Burman, responsible publisher at Eskilstuna-Kuriren.

The Council's decision, which is an indicative statement, states that all media should be treated fairly and as equitably as possible. Therefore, as a prosecutor, you can not only comment on an investigation into some media but not others. The prosecutor also points out that the approach to the media should as far as possible be characterized by openness and accessibility.

RÅ also writes that it is part of a prosecutor's role to be examined and criticized by the media because prosecutors make decisions that affect people's everyday lives.

Anna Asklöf believes that the magazine Eskistuna-Kuriren has run a "hate campaign" against her as a person since the election.

- I have chosen not to have any contact with them. They have always been concerned that I have the wrong opinion according to them, and they are the ones who reported me to the supervisory department. It's about my person and not my role as a prosecutor, says Asklöf.

She also says that she has full respect for the guidance and recommendation of the supervisory department, but says that the decision also opens not to talk to the media at all, as it also states that prosecutors are not required to provide information to a greater extent than follows from the Public and Privacy Act.

However, RÅ emphasizes that journalists should always be notified when questions are asked about an investigation, even if information cannot be provided at this time.

Eva Burman does not agree that the newspaper has run any campaign against Asklöf.

- No, absolutely not, you have to be able to distinguish things and people. It is part of her role to be open and the public has the right to have access to that type of governmental exercise, she says.

SVT has sought the State Prosecutor for a comment, but Chamber Prosecutor Anna Bengtsson, at the supervisory department says that no comments are made on individual cases.