A Ukrainian woman was humiliated by a Stockholm bus driver when he dismissed her passport as garbage, leading to a ruling against transport agency SL for discrimination.
In October 2024, a Ukrainian woman boarded a bus in Stockholm and presented her passport as fare payment, a practice allowed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine four years ago. However, when she showed her passport, the bus driver insultingly commented in Russian that 'this is not a passport, this is garbage.' The woman felt degraded and offended by the driver's remarks.
Region Stockholm, the governing body of SL, attempted to downplay the incident by claiming it was a misunderstanding, arguing that the driver was referring to the passport's worn condition and suggesting that the woman should obtain a new one. However, upon investigation by the Discrimination Ombudsman (DO), it was determined that the passport was in good condition, contradicting the driver's statement. This ruling highlights serious concerns about the treatment of passengers by public transport staff.
Mira-Liv Atie, a process officer at the DO's legal unit, emphasized that passengers should never have to endure discrimination or derogatory remarks about their background. The DO's assessment not only validates the passenger's experience but also underscores the responsibility of public transportation authorities to ensure respectful treatment for all individuals. This case may have broader implications for policies regarding how public transport operators handle passenger interactions, especially concerning vulnerable populations like refugees.
