Dmitri Kisseljov, head of Russia’s propaganda outlet MIA Rossija Segodnja — the media group that also includes publications operating under the Sputnik trademark —, is on the list of persons subject to the European Union’s sanctions. Sputnik’s operations in Estonia were closed on 31 December 2019 owing to the sanctions imposed on Kisseljov, and the people working for the agency, including Mati-Dmitri Terestal and Elena Cherysheva, were notified that continuing to work for the benefit of Sputnik would be considered a violation of international sanctions.
The charges show that despite this, Terestal and Cherysheva jointly and knowingly continued to publish information in Estonia in the name of Sputnik that operated under the control of MIA Rossija Segodnja. As specified in the charges, they made different economic resources available to Kisseljov, who is subject to international sanctions, and intentionally violated international sanctions from 1 January 2020 to 8 March 2022, when they were arrested as suspects. The activity of the Sputnik news agency was also banned in the European Union as of 2 March 2022 to combat misinformation and information manipulation by the Kremlin. Based on the charges, Terestal and Cherysheva published information related to the Sputnik trademark also after 2 March 2022, thereby intentionally violating international sanctions in addition to their previous violation of international sanctions.
Chief State Prosecutor Taavi Pern said that Russia’s hostile activities must not be taken lightly. “Facilitating the publication of the Kremlin’s misinformation and propaganda in any way directly affects our security as well as the security of other states. To prevent this, the European Union prohibited making any funds or economic resources available, directly or indirectly, to Kisseljov, the head of MIA Rossija Segodnja and its branches. According to the charges, Mati-Dmitri Terestal and Elena Cherysheva were aware that they were violating international sanctions with their activity, however, they continued operating under the Sputnik trademark in Estonia regardless. They received more than half a million euros from Russia to fund Sputnik’s operations, and used the funds to act for the benefit of Kisseljov, head of Rossija Segodnja, who is subject to sanctions,” said Pern.
“The purpose of international sanctions imposed on Russia is to restrict Russia’s activity in the fields that may be exploited in potential hostile activities or military action against other states. Thus, the sanctions primarily protect Estonia’s security and interests, while also restricting Russia’s unlawful military operations in Ukraine. The impact of evading sanctions is the opposite,” added Chief State Prosecutor Pern.
After the charges had been filed, the Prosecutor’s Office applied for committing suspect Cherysheva in custody to prevent her from continuing to commit criminal offences and evading the proceedings. The court did not grant the application of the Prosecutor’s Office, Cherysheva left Estonia and continues to evade the proceedings. She has been declared an international fugitive from justice for this reason.
The pre-trial proceedings were conducted by the Estonian Internal Security Service.