The Ambassador of Sweden to Bulgaria (known formally as the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Bulgaria) is the official representative of the government of Sweden to the president of Bulgaria and government of Bulgaria. Since 2010, the ambassador is based in Stockholm.
History Sweden's representation in Bulgaria began on 26 October 1906, with the establishment of an honorary consulate in Sofia. Initially, the consulate operated under the jurisdiction of the consulate general in Constantinople, but on 26 April 1907, it was upgraded to an independent consulate general. Diplomatic relations between Sweden and Bulgaria were officially established in 1909.
On 6 May 1914, the Swedish minister in Constantinople, Cossva Anckarsvärd, was also appointed as minister to the Bulgarian court. On 19 June 1914, Anckarsvärd presented his credentials to King Ferdinand I of Bulgaria in Sofia.
In 1935, the accreditation for Sofia was transferred from the Swedish minister in Constantinople to the Swedish minister in Bucharest. In January 1951, it was reported that the position of head of mission in Bucharest would be discontinued. The responsibility for Sweden's representation in Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary would thereafter be divided between Belgrade, Moscow, and Prague, with Sweden being represented in those countries by lower-ranking personnel for the time being. The Swedish ambassador in Moscow was subsequently accredited to Sofia.
In January 1964, a statement from the Committee of Supply proposed the establishment of a new diplomatic mission in Sofia. The proposal was approved in March of the same year. In April the Swedish legation was granted the rank and status of an embassy.
On 21 January 2010, the Reinfeldt cabinet announced the closure of six Swedish embassies, including the one in Bulgaria. The embassy in Sofia was closed on 30 September 2010. Instead, a Stockholm-based ambassador was accredited to Bulgaria and visits the country regularly.
List of representatives NamePeriodResident / Non-residentTitleResident / Concurrent accreditationNotesPresented credentialsRefKingdom of Bulgaria (1908–1946)Cossva Anckarsvärd8 April 1914 – 1920 Non-residentEnvoyResident in Constantinople19 June 1914Gustaf Wallenberg1921–1930 Non-residentEnvoyResident in ConstantinopleCarl von Heidenstam14 July 1930 – 1931 Non-residentEnvoyResident in IstanbulErik Boheman1931–1934 Non-residentEnvoyResident in IstanbulWilhelm Winther1934–1935 Non-residentEnvoyResident in AnkaraPatrik Reuterswärd1 July 1935 – 1948 Non-residentEnvoyResident in BucharestPeople's Republic of Bulgaria (1946–1990)Sven Allard1949–1951 Non-residentEnvoyResident in BucharestRolf Sohlman19 October 1951 – 1963 Non-residentEnvoyResident in MoscowAlma Grünthal1951–1953 ResidentChargé d'affairesGunnar Gerring1964–1969 ResidentAmbassadorOlof Ripa1969–1974 ResidentAmbassadorGunnar Ljungdahl1974–1978 ResidentAmbassadorManfred Nilsson1978–1981 ResidentAmbassadorHans Andén1981–1985 ResidentAmbassadorÅke Berg1985–1989 ResidentAmbassadorRepublic of Bulgaria (1990–present)Hans-Olle Olsson1990–1993 ResidentAmbassadorBertil Lund1993–1998 ResidentAmbassadorSten Ask1998–2003 ResidentAmbassadorBertil Roth2003–2008 ResidentAmbassadorPaul Beijer2008–2010 ResidentAmbassadorHelena Pilsas Ahlin2010–2015 Non-residentAmbassadorResident in Stockholm29 November 2010Louise Bergholm2015–2020 Non-residentAmbassadorResident in StockholmKatarina RangnittSeptember 2020 – 2025 Non-residentAmbassadorResident in StockholmPontus Melander2025–present Non-residentAmbassadorResident in Stockholm
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