The European Union (EU) on Tuesday expressed 'grave concern' over the recent arrest of two men in communist Vietnam for anti-state activities, the Swedish embassy said. The EU Troika, through the ambassadors of Sweden, Spain and the European Commission, conveyed the message to Vietnam's foreign ministry about the arrests of Nguyen Tien Trung and Tran Anh Kim, it said in a brief statement. Trung, 25, was arrested on July 7 at his home in southern Ho Chi Minh City, his father said last week. State-linked VNExpress news website said Trung is accused of opposition to the state and was arrested following his expulsion from the military, where he was performing national service. Trung's detention came a day after the arrest of another pro-democracy activist, Tran Anh Kim, 60, who was being investigated for propaganda against the state, VNExpress said, citing security forces. It added that both had links to the banned Democratic Party of Vietnam. The Troika represents the European Union in external relations that fall within the scope of the EU's common foreign and security policy. Sweden currently holds the rotating EU presidency. Last month the EU heads of mission in Hanoi expressed their concern over the arrest of human rights lawyer Le Cong Dinh. The lawyer's high-profile arrest for 'propaganda' against the state also sparked concern from the United States, a global association of lawyers, as well as human rights watchdogs and press freedom groups around the world. The arrests are the latest in a series of dissident detentions in recent years. Vietnam says it has a consistent policy to guarantee citizens' freedom of speech and opinions. 