Anvelt: Kohver topic uncomfortable for Russia
Former Justice Minister Andres Anvelt said that the captured Internal Security Service (KaPo) official Eston Kohver question is uncomfortable for Russia and the silence points to an unsuccessful investigation.
He told ETV's “Forum” program on Wednesday that even in more free societies the prosecution and investigators are quieter on less successful investigation, adding that if there is no progress, there is nothing to comment on.
Anvelt said he hopes the case will have a political and diplomatic solution.
Raivo Aeg, former KaPo chief and current IRL MP, said that Russian authorities "shot themselves in the foot" with Kohver, failing to comment on the right things at the right time.
FSB, the Russian intelligence service, could have spun a deeper web around the case, but missed their chance and there is no going back.
KaPo deputy head Martin Arpo said they are ready for a drawn-out showdown with Russia, adding that they have "enough ammunition to spare".
Arpo said Russia currently has shifted its focus on Ukraine, but Estonia must be ready if that focus returns on Estonia, like it did in 2007.
Kohver, Estonian authorities say, was in the line of duty and collecting information on cross-border corruption within the framework of an information collection plan in the vicinity of the Estonian-Russian border, when he was abducted in last September. Russia maintains he was arrested in Russia. He is currently in a prison in Moscow and Estonian officials have been able to meet him.
Editor: J.M. Laats