Eston Kohver

Eston Kohver (born 1971) is an Estonian officer of the Estonian Internal Security Service[1] who was arrested by the Russian FSB on 5 September 2014 under disputed circumstances, creating a major rift in Estonia–Russia relations.[2]

Detained by Russia

Estonia asserts that Kohver was abducted on 5 September 2014 at gunpoint from the Estonian side of the border by Russians using a smoke grenade and radio jammers, while Russia insists that Kohver had crossed the border, and had €5,000, a pistol, "special equipment to carry out covert recording", and "materials that seem to be assignments for an intelligence-gathering mission".[3] The Estonian Internal Security Service confirmed that Kohver was carrying his service pistol, cash and recording equipment in his task of investigating cross border crime and smuggling.[4] He was due to meet a possible informant on the border as part of the investigation, but instead walked into a trap set up by the FSB.[5] The incident occurred about 8 km north of the border crossing at Luhamaa, in a secluded and forested area near the village of Miikse. The defense lawyer appointed by the Russian state to represent Eston Kohver claims that the FSB has thorough video recordings on Kohver crossing the border.[6]

According to the Estonian Internal Security Service, immediately after the incident Estonian investigators and Russian border guards jointly investigated the scene, and agreed that the evidence showed that there were signs of a violent struggle and impact craters from the smoke grenades on the Estonian side, with multiple footprints in a band of raked sand suggesting that a group of men crossed from and then returned to the Russian side.[7][8][5] On 10 September, Estonian newspapers published a bilingual protocol of border violation, signed on 5 September by Estonian and Russian border guards who had inspected the place immediately after the incident. The protocol confirmed that the border was crossed from Russia to Estonia, and then back to Russia.[9]

Eerik-Niiles Kross, a former Estonian national security advisor, speculated that the crime being investigated by Kohver may have involved criminals with ties to the FSB.[8] In January 2015 Estonian media speculated that Kohver may have been captured to force Estonian government to exchange him for a Federal Security Service spy Aleksei Dressen convicted in 2012.[10]

European Union reminded in March 2015 that Kohver has been "illegally detained" in Lefortovo Prison and deprived of the legal support, and called for his immediate release.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Kaitsepolitseiamet". kapo.ee.
  2. ↑ "BBC News - Estonia angry at Russia 'abduction' on border". BBC News.
  3. ↑ "Russia says detained Estonian police officer is a spy". the Guardian.
  4. ↑ KÄNGSEPP, LIIS. "Estonia Says Border Secure After Officer's 'Abduction'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Borger, Julian. "Estonia says official seized by Russia was lured into FSB trap". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  6. ↑ "Russia offers opening for Kohver’s return". The Baltic Times. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  7. ↑ "Officials: Estonian Counterintelligence Officer Abducted to Russia at Gunpoint From Estonian Soil". News - ERR.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Julian Borger. "Russians open new front after Estonian official is captured in 'cross-border raid'". the Guardian.
  9. ↑ "Доказательства: нарушение границы произошло по направлению из России в Эстонию" [Evidence: border was crossed from Russia to Estonia]. PostTimes. 2014-09-10. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  10. ↑ "Адвокат Кохвера информацией о возможном обмене своего подзащитного на Дрессена не обладает". DELFI. 2015-01-14. Retrieved 2015-03-04.
  11. ↑ "Statement by the Spokesperson on the abduction and continued illegal detention of the Estonian police officer". European Union. 2015-03-04. Retrieved 2015-03-04.