Estonia's plan to rent prison space to Sweden sparks fears of imported organized crime
TALLINN — Estonia will lease space at Tartu Prison to Sweden and accept up to 600 inmates under a new agreement being negotiated between the two countries. The draft legislation has been sent to the parliament.
Meanwhile, the Estonian Office of the Chancellor of Justice and the Internal Security Service emphasizes the risks that placing foreign prisoners in Tartu may bring.
Amid the possible worsening situation for the Estonian prisoners, the main concern is that people with connections to extremism or international organized crime may arrive in Estonia.
The Internal Security Service has forwarded the recommendations to the government and hopes that it will take them into account to the greatest extent possible.
Marta Tuul, spokesperson of the Internal Security Service commented on Estonian TV:
"The main concerns we see are that people with connections to extremism or international organized crime do not arrive in Estonia. We also see that foreign prisoners may begin to be visited by individuals with connections to extremism or international organized crime."In 2023, the number of inmates in Estonia dropped below 2,000 for the first time and has been decreasing by about one hundred people each year. Meanwhile, the Swedish government aims to impose tougher and longer sentences, making it unlikely that the number of prisoners there will decline in the near future.Indrek-Ivar Määrit, Head of Inspection Department of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice told Estonian public TV:"For us, there are three main concerns here: Firstly, the situation of Estonian prisoners must not worsen because foreign prisoners are coming. Secondly, these foreign prisoners themselves must be treated in accordance with Estonian law and international requirements. And thirdly, in the broadest sense, Estonia's internal security should not be endangered, and we are not only mindful of the danger that these people themselves pose, but also the danger that may accompany this process."For Swedish offenders, the Estonian state plans to use the S-Wing of Tartu Prison, which has approximately 350 places across 175 cells, followed by the E-Wing, which has 631 places in 318 cells.Rait Kuuse, Secretary General for Prisons at the Ministry of Justice further elaborated on the plams:"We prefer not to accept prisoners who are women or children. These would be male prisoners, either people convicted of crimes against the person or convicted of drug crimes, who do not have signs of being part of a network and who should not pose a significant threat to Estonia as a whole."Through the agreement, Estonia hopes to generate at least €30 million in additional revenue. — Euronews
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Saudi Gazette
20 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Estonia's plan to rent prison space to Sweden sparks fears of imported organized crime
TALLINN — Estonia will lease space at Tartu Prison to Sweden and accept up to 600 inmates under a new agreement being negotiated between the two countries. The draft legislation has been sent to the parliament. Meanwhile, the Estonian Office of the Chancellor of Justice and the Internal Security Service emphasizes the risks that placing foreign prisoners in Tartu may bring. Amid the possible worsening situation for the Estonian prisoners, the main concern is that people with connections to extremism or international organized crime may arrive in Estonia. The Internal Security Service has forwarded the recommendations to the government and hopes that it will take them into account to the greatest extent possible. Marta Tuul, spokesperson of the Internal Security Service commented on Estonian TV: "The main concerns we see are that people with connections to extremism or international organized crime do not arrive in Estonia. We also see that foreign prisoners may begin to be visited by individuals with connections to extremism or international organized crime."In 2023, the number of inmates in Estonia dropped below 2,000 for the first time and has been decreasing by about one hundred people each year. Meanwhile, the Swedish government aims to impose tougher and longer sentences, making it unlikely that the number of prisoners there will decline in the near Määrit, Head of Inspection Department of the Office of the Chancellor of Justice told Estonian public TV:"For us, there are three main concerns here: Firstly, the situation of Estonian prisoners must not worsen because foreign prisoners are coming. Secondly, these foreign prisoners themselves must be treated in accordance with Estonian law and international requirements. And thirdly, in the broadest sense, Estonia's internal security should not be endangered, and we are not only mindful of the danger that these people themselves pose, but also the danger that may accompany this process."For Swedish offenders, the Estonian state plans to use the S-Wing of Tartu Prison, which has approximately 350 places across 175 cells, followed by the E-Wing, which has 631 places in 318 Kuuse, Secretary General for Prisons at the Ministry of Justice further elaborated on the plams:"We prefer not to accept prisoners who are women or children. These would be male prisoners, either people convicted of crimes against the person or convicted of drug crimes, who do not have signs of being part of a network and who should not pose a significant threat to Estonia as a whole."Through the agreement, Estonia hopes to generate at least €30 million in additional revenue. — Euronews
Saudi Gazette
20-05-2025
- Saudi Gazette
Russia releases Greek-owned oil tanker after brief detention near Estonia
TALLINN — Russia has released a Greek-owned oil tanker which was seized on Sunday in Russian waters after leaving a port in Estonia, the Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported. The Liberian-flagged Green Admire is now sailing in the Baltic Sea and is headed for the Dutch port of Rotterdam, according to ERR and the LSEG ship tracking data service. The tanker was seized by Russian authorities after departing from the Estonian port of Sillamäe and using a designated navigation channel that crosses Russian waters, Estonia's foreign ministry said on Sunday. Estonia's Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said that Russia's action against the Green Admire was likely a response to the Estonian navy's campaign against Russia's so-called "shadow fleet", in which it is inspecting tankers used to transport millions of barrels of Russian oil through the Baltic Sea. "(The) incident shows that Russia continues to behave unpredictably," Tsahkna said on Sunday, referring to Moscow's detention of the Green Admire. "I have also informed our allies of the event," he said, referring to other NATO members. To prevent similar incidents in the future, Estonia will redirect marine traffic to and from Sillamäe exclusively through Estonian territorial waters, the foreign ministry said. A Russian fighter jet entered NATO airspace last week after Estonia's navy had intercepted a suspected shadow fleet ship in its waters, according to Tsahkna. Russia's shadow fleet is made up of aging tankers bought used, often by non-transparent entities with addresses in non-sanctioning countries such as the United Arab Emirates or the Marshall Islands, and flagged in places like Gabon or the Cook Islands. The European Union has been targeting the ships, which sometimes also carry stolen Ukrainian grain, with sanctions. In February, 70 vessels believed to be part of the shadow fleet were added to more than 50 already listed. EU foreign ministers are expected to slap sanctions on dozens more imminently. — Euronews
Arab News
05-05-2025
- Arab News
Malta brings six crew members off ship in drone strike row
VALLETTA: Pro-Palestinian activists aboard a boat damaged in an alleged Israeli drone strike have allowed a Maltese surveyor to inspect the vessel and six crew members have agreed to disembark, Malta's premier told parliament Monday. Prime Minister Robert Abela has said that Malta could tow the stricken Conscience to port for repairs once a maritime expert has been allowed to board the ship and study the results of Friday's alleged attack. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition had hoped to pick up supporters, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, in Malta then sail on to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinian victims of Israel's blockade of the territory and renewed military assault against the Hamas militant group. But, on Friday, a fire broke out on board the vessel after what the group says was a double drone strike, which the activists argue was most likely launched by Israel to halt or delay their mission. Neither Israel nor Malta, whose vessels intervened to help douse the fire, have confirmed the attack. But Abela promised that the Conscience will be allowed to continue on its mission once any necessary repairs are concluded. The Flotilla Coalition has welcomed the offer. 'Six people on this ship made a request to come ashore to our country and then immediately leave to their countries,' Abela told parliament Monday. Previously, the international activists had resisted calls for them to abandon ship, fearing being forced to drop their mission. 'This request was accepted immediately and those people are in the process of being transported to Malta by the Armed Forces of Malta, and they will catch a plane back to their country later today,' the premier said. Initially, Flotilla Coalition volunteers had said the surveyor would only be allowed on board if the ship was towed into Maltese territorial waters, but Abela said that was not acceptable, as Malta wanted to know more about the condition of the vessel before taking charge of its safety. Malta also refused a request that three individuals currently not on board be taken out to the Conscience with the inspector. 'The ship's captain now has accepted that the surveyor is allowed on board while the ship sits outside Malta's territorial waters, and I'm informed that the surveyor is in process of arriving at the ship,' Abela said. During an online press conference on Sunday, before Monday's departure of six crew members, the flotilla group said there were 18 people on board, 12 crew members and six 'human rights observers.' The activists explained the Conscience has no flag because the government of the Pacific nation of Palau had announced that they were withdrawing their registration on Friday, the day of the alleged strike. Otherwise, they insisted they had made every effort to comply with international maritime law when embarking on the mission to take aid to Palestinians in Gaza. According to the Flotilla Coalition, the Conscience was attacked in international waters, causing a fire that disabled the vessel and minor injuries to crew members. Online flight tracking service ADS-B Exchange showed that an Israeli C-130 military cargo plane had been in the area immediately before the incident and had made several low altitude sweeps over the area. Israel is known for conducting covert operations beyond its borders, including several during the Gaza war that it only acknowledged later. The activists said the strike appeared to target the boat's generator. Thunberg told reporters that the incident should not distract from the focus of the boat's mission to Gaza. 'What we are doing here is to try our very best to use all the means that we have to do our part, to keep trying to break the inhumane and illegal siege on Gaza and to open up humanitarian corridors,' she said.
