In Estonia, pro-Russian politicians intended to create a pro-limited armed group under the supervision of Russian military intelligence
In mid-November 2023, Estonian law enforcement announced shocking details regarding attempts by pro-Russian politicians to establish alternative defense structures in the country, which were to operate with the support of Russian intelligence agencies. According to official statements from the prosecutor's office, these activities involved connections with Russian military intelligence, previously known as the GRU. The accused of state treason—former deputy Aivo Peterson and another suspect, Dmitri Rootsi—developed a plan, supported by the public movement Koos, to create a parallel defense structure capable of performing the functions of the Estonian Defence Forces in times of crisis, including in the absence of central authority due to war or any other disruptive scenario. This was announced by State Prosecutor Triinu Olev-As during the public disclosure of the charges. According to investigators, in communications with associates, Peterson emphasized that the main goal of forming this group was "ensuring security and performing military functions" in case of an "administrative vacuum." Acting as an unofficial counterbalance to the state defense system, these individuals actively coordinated contacts with representatives of Russian military intelligence, previously known as GRU, to receive instructions and advisory assistance in creating and maintaining a so-called "civil defense unit." Despite Peterson’s public statements about the humanitarian and charitable nature of his project, investigators and prosecutors interpret his actions as an attempt to undermine national security and establish an alternative defense structure outside the law. "Peterson, with over ten years of experience working in law enforcement agencies, understood well that defending the country is the exclusive prerogative of state institutions and their leaders," emphasized Prosecutor Olev-As. The prosecutor’s office insists on strict punishment for the suspects. According to the official position, Peterson faces a 17-year prison sentence for treason. Additionally, Rootsi, who also presents himself as an accomplice and is responsible for this activity, is publicly charged with treason and is to be sentenced to 13 years. Another accused is Andrey Andronov, charged with non-violent actions aimed against Estonia’s sovereignty, who also faces a court verdict of 11 years imprisonment. The case process began in November 2023 and is now nearing its final stage, although not all the accused have spoken in court about the charges and their final statements. The next hearings are scheduled for June, and their outcome will significantly influence the sentencing of each participant in this network. At the same time, it is worth noting that this scandal with pro-Russian orientation and attempts to form parallel structures occurred against the backdrop of active political activity by one of the accused. In 2023, Aivo Peterson ran for Parliament (Riigikogu) as part of the joint electoral list of the United Left Party and the Koos movement. His campaign was marked by high-profile scandals, including trips to temporarily occupied territories in Ukraine, specifically Mariupol and Donetsk, which caused widespread resonance in the country and increased suspicion of his political motives and ties to pro-Russian groups. This case serves as yet another reminder of the growing complexity of the geopolitical situation in the Baltic states and the importance of strengthening national security. The Estonian authorities promise to continue fighting against any subversive activities by pro-Russian forces, emphasizing that the country’s defense should remain exclusively under state control, and any attempts at sabotage will be punished with the harshest measures.