Teliasoneras record profits this year of more than 36 Bn SEK (€ 3,84 Bn)  are built to a large extent on business in the former east-bloc dictatorships like Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. But the success story has a downside for the citizens of the ruthless regimes.

Officially the Swedish- Finnish corporation want to communicate a picture of supporting democratic developments through their technology. But ”Uppdrag gransknings” team of reporters, Sven Bergman, Joachim Dyfvermark and Fredrik Laurin can now unveil how Teliasoneras companies have been important tools for the regimes in the former CIS-countries in controlling and oppressing their own citizens.

The team has met with and interviewed numerous opposition politicians, journalists, union members and ordinary citizens that have two things in common: They are all Teliasonera customers,  and all had their human rights abused by the security services or police in their home countries after Teliasonera has made information from their mobile phone traffic available to the authorities.

– After the Arab spring the regimes in these countries are even more interested in controlling their people. There is no limit to how much they listen to calls. They have free reign in Tealisonera´s systems, a centrally placed source in Teliasonera says to ”Uppdrag granskning”.

Teliasonera is listed on the Stockholm stock exchange (TLSN) and its main owners are the Swedish (37 %) and Finnish states. (Finnish state currently owns 11 %, had 14 % until 20 120 320 and is going down to 9 % by 2015).

Teliasonera has adopted the UN CSR-initiative ”Global compact”.

”Uppdrag granskning”  SVT – Swedish Public Service Television 20.00 CET on SVT 1 or live on the web.

The program will also be available with English subtitles on the same webpage from Wednesday 25:th of April.

For more information on the program please contact:   

Fredrik Laurin, fl@trojkan.se,  +46708326202 ,  Skype fredrik.laurin