Russian intelligence services launching study on language localism in the Baltics
FSB, the Russian Federal Security Service, is planning to study the Russian-language skills of ethnic Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians and Ukrainians.
FSB has published a tender to study the linguistics of Russian regions and the post communist countries. The study will ask ten men to read out texts in Russian, which will be recorded and analyzed. The results will be used to compile an atlas of the modern Russian language.
The deadline is September 2017 and the cost at around 200,000 euros.
The procurement was published by the FSB unit number 68240, which, according to Russian news website Fontanka.ru, is known for its research. The current tender could be used to help authorities identify people of Estonian, and other, origin in investigations.
Other sources say unit 88240 is responsible for the technical side of the intelligence agency, including interrogations.
Harrys Puusepp, a spokesman for KaPo, the Estonian security service, told ERR there is no reason for KaPo to interfere.
Puusepp said research is not illegal, adding that if anyone is approached by the FSB and asked to participate in the study, they should contact KaPo.
Editor: J.M. Laats
