The Harju District Court convicted Anatoly Privalov, a citizen of Israel, of intelligence activities against Estonia and sentenced him to six and a half years of actual imprisonment based on an application of the Prosecutor’s Office.
According to the charges brought by the Prosecutor’s Office, Anatoly Privalov has been participating in activities directed against Estonian security in cooperation with FSB officers since 2016. Privalov forwarded information requested by FSB officers as well as means necessary for supporting intelligence activities via communication devices and at meetings conducted in Russia. For example, he sent the FSB information about the activities of Estonian and Allied law enforcement, intelligence and security authorities and the Estonian state’s defence infrastructure. This included information on people who could be potentially recruited to covertly work in the interests of Russia.
The resident of Narva was, among other things, involved in acts of sabotage and weaponised migration, and attempted to help Andrei Ševljakov, who was detained in Estonia and was wanted by the FBI owing to criminal proceedings, to escape to Russia in cooperation with the FSB in 2025.
“Andrei Ševljakov was under electronic surveillance but this did not stop Anatoly Privalov from planning his escape together with the FSB. They did not succeed this time but this case proves that electronic surveillance is not sufficient in the case of security-related criminal offences,” said Chief State Prosecutor Taavi Pern.
Russian special services use recruited collaborators in hostile activities against Estonia but also the West in general. “Based on attacks and their plans, we can see that their hostile influence activities have become more violent,” said Taavi Narits, deputy Director General of the Estonian Internal Security Service.
Narits considers long-term stays in Russia or border crossings the main risk points. “They mainly exploit people who need to visit Russia for different reasons, irrespective of their nationality or citizenship. Russian special services recruit collaborators at the border and on their own territory, and use these people against Estonia and the West in general. This will end with a prison stay, just as in all previous cases,” said Narits. “Our joint counteraction provides credible deterrence – the recruited collaborators consider the risk of getting caught high and this considerably hinders the realisation of planned evil intentions,” added Narits.
The attached photograph depicts Kjamran Alijev. Caption: FSB officer Kjamran Alijev was Anatoly Privalov’s main handler. People who have had dealings with him should contact the Estonian Internal Security Service.