TALLINN (Sputnik) – The regional court of the northwestern Russian city Pskov sentenced Eston Kohver, an Estonian Internal Security Service officer, to 15 years in prison earlier in the day. Kohver was found guilty of espionage, smuggling, possession of firearms, as well as illegally crossing the state border.
"Today’s judgment does not change our position. We call on Russia to immediately release Eston Kohver," Kaljurand said in a press release published on the ministry’s website.
"We demand that Russia act according to its international obligations, release Eston Kohver and guarantee his safe return to Estonia," Kaljurand stressed.
Tallinn maintains that Kohver was kidnapped by unidentified persons near the Luhamaa border checkpoint and taken to Russia at gunpoint on September 5, 2014.
The Estonian Security Service claims Kohver was performing his duties to prevent cross-border smuggling. The Russian special services assert that they foiled undercover operations conducted by an agency of the Estonian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
