In a disturbing incident in Stockholm, a bus driver allegedly harassed a Ukrainian woman by derogatorily referring to her passport as "trash". This incident occurred when the woman used her Ukrainian passport, which also serves as a travel ticket in the region, to board a public bus. The comments, made in Russian, were reported to be deeply humiliating for the woman and have raised serious concerns about ethnic discrimination and harassment in public transport.

The Swedish Discrimination Ombudsman (DO) has taken up the case and is calling for the regional authority to compensate the woman with 50,000 kronor. This action emphasizes the seriousness of the claims of racial and ethnic harassment as indicated by the Ombudsman, who views the driver’s remarks as unacceptable and discriminatory. The case not only highlights issues of cultural sensitivity and respect in public services but also the broader implications of how ethnic minorities are treated in Sweden.

In response to the allegations, the regional authority has acknowledged the comments made by the bus driver but contends that there was no intent to insult the woman, suggesting instead that the driver thought her passport was damaged. However, evidence presented by the DO, including photographs, show the passport in good condition. This inconsistency raises questions about the driver’s judgment and the need for further training in cultural competence for public transport staff to prevent future incidents of this nature.