Sven Hirdman, former Swedish ambassador to Moscow, dies

Sven Hirdman, a prominent Swedish diplomat known for his extensive expertise in Russian culture and politics, has died at the age of 87.

Hirdman served as Sweden's ambassador to Moscow from 1994 to 2004, during which time he became the doyen of the diplomatic corps and was accredited to several former Soviet republics. His long career included roles as an embassy counselor in Beijing, state secretary at the Ministry of Defense, and ambassador to Tel Aviv. He also served as deputy director of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and headed the National Inspectorate of War Materiel.

Throughout his career, Hirdman was a proponent of an independent Swedish foreign policy centered on dialogue. Even in recent years, he remained vocal about diplomatic standards, expressing concern over what he perceived as the dismantling of Swedish diplomacy. Dissidentklubben described him as an ‘old school’ diplomat characterized by deep linguistic skills and patience.