“I couldn’t confidently conclude that the espionage cases that have surfaced recently necessarily show that Russian intelligence agencies are growing more active, but people in Estonia should keep their usual vigilance as ever since the Baltics regained independence, Russia has constantly tried to recruit people and get their hands on sensitive information,” says deputy director of the International Centre for Defence and Security, Martin Hurt.
“I couldn’t confidently conclude that the espionage cases that have surfaced recently necessarily show that Russian intelligence agencies are growing more active, but people in Estonia should keep their usual vigilance as ever since the Baltics regained independence, Russia has constantly tried to recruit people and get their hands on sensitive information,” says deputy director of the International Centre for Defence and Security, Martin Hurt.
The latest apprehension of a possible spy is said to involve a Russian citizen working for the FSB – not a recruited asset, said Hurt. “Estonian inhabitants should maintain their usual vigilance – usual in the sense that we are a neighbour of Russia and as long as Moscow tries to undermine our independence, we have to proceed from that fact in our everyday activity. Estonian politicians, officials, journalists and public servants and private sector employees – especially ones who provide vital services for the functioning of state and society – must remain observant in their work,” he says.
Read more (in Estonian): Õhtuleht