The Viru District Court convicted Estonian citizen Igor Lobin, whom the Office of the Prosecutor General charged with intelligence activities against the Republic of Estonia and supporting thereof, in an agreement process. The court imposed a sentence of five years of actual imprisonment on the accused.
Based on the judgement, Lobin knowingly established a relationship with FSB – Russian special services –, and had been sending the FSB information about Estonian national defence, internal security and political situation since 2017.
The FSB is interested in obtaining information about national defense-related objects, the personnel and activities of security forces, as well as the exercises of the Defence Forces and Defence League. It also seeks data on the transition to Estonian-language education, the crisis preparedness of vital service providers, and individuals who are active in society.
“Collecting information for and assisting Russian special services means acting against Estonian security, which is why cooperation with any Russian special services endangers Estonia’s constitutional order. Cooperating with Russia against Estonia is punishable and the consequence of each and every criminal offence against the state may be several years of actual imprisonment,” said State Prosecutor Triinu Olev-Aas.
For a long time, Lobin was a divisive actor in the field of Russia’s influencing activity. Russia’s purpose is to demolish Estonia's cohesive society. Through such efforts, it also seeks to disrupt the societies of European Union and ATO member states, undermine constitutional order, national security, and, if necessary, territorial integrity. A cohesive and close-knit society as well as strong alliances form the basis of the Republic of Estonia’s security.
“This case reveals the FSB’s modus operandi that is already familiar to us and illustrates their habitual methods and tactics used in obtaining information and conducting divisive activities in Estonia. Cooperation with Russia’s special services will not remain a secret and we will respond decisively sooner or later,” said Taavi Narits, Deputy Director General of the Estonian National Security Service.
If you receive a cooperation proposal from the Russian intelligence, notify the Estonian National Security Service at [email protected].
The pre-trial investigation was conducted by the Estonian Internal Security Service and directed by the Office of the Prosecutor General.