TALLINN, Estonia, Aug. 19 (UPI) -- A Russian court has convicted Eston Kohver, an Estonian security officer, of espionage and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
Kohver was detained at the Russian border last September, sparking a case that provoked a diplomatic row between the European Union and Russia. The FSB, Russia's domestic security service, said that Kohver was on a "spying operation" on Russian territory, BBC News reported, a charge heavily disputed by his backers.
After his arrest near the Luhamaa border checkpoint, the security official was charged with other crimes including smuggling arms and illegally crossing the Russian state border, according to Interfax news agency. The September 5 incident took place just two days after U.S. President Barack Obama visited Estonia, a NATO ally. The alliance enables Estonia security guarantees in the face of rising tensions with Russia over Ukraine, Radio Free Europe reported.
Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas condemned Wednesday, calling it "a clear and grave violation of international law. The staged court case that formed a verdict suitable for the Russian authorities has nothing to do with a fair trial."
#Estonian PM @TaaviRoivas says the trial of abducted Eston Kohver in #Russia was staged and illegal from the start. pic.twitter.com/eLEOktF8uw
— Raimo Poom (@RaimoPoom) August 19, 2015Estonia has denied that Kohver had been operating as a spy, saying he had been investigating smuggling operations involving Russian officials.
In a statement, Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, called on Russia to release Kohver. She underscored that he was deprived the right to a free trial "from the very beginning."
Kohver's "abduction and subsequent illegal detention in Russia constitute a clear violation of international law." Mogherini added that Kohver was deprived of the right to a fair trial because it was held behind closed doors and the Estonian consul was not allowed to be present.
"Kohver was deprived of adequate legal aid," she said.
