Editorial: hostage crisis, starring Kross and Reinsalu

Photo: Urmas Nemvalts

Call Eerik-Niiles Kross hostage of USA. Not alone in this condition, however: just as Mr Kross sits hostage to USA, defence minister Urmas Reinsalu is held hostage by Mr Kross. For both, the situation is anything but easy.

Let’s take a moment to consider the weirdness of it all. USA is Estonia’s main ally. USA has imposed visa ban on Mr Kross. Mr Kross is defence minister’s adviser, yet unable to enter the country we are accustomed to view as guarantee of our security. What’s more: diplomatic sources say that should Mr Kross ask for access to NATO secrets, he’d not get it.

We know not the reason why Mr Kross has the visa ban and why he is not permitted access to NATO secrets; allegedly, this has to do with intelligence activities of Mr Kross. As once written by Mr Kross himself, the truth will only come out in Spy Valhalla: these are the things the public will never be told. Valhalla, in Ancient Germanic mythology, was the place for fallen heroes and dead kings. Some stuff is meant to be unsaid.

A prerequisite to access NATO secrets is the state secrets license. When Mr Kross says he has no need to apply for access to state secrets, he’s not lying. He knows that to the next level, of NATO secrets, he wouldn’t get anyway. Regarding Estonia’s state secrets – as former intelligence coordinator, he knows them just the same. That was his job: to handle the most sensitive of information.

But still: what does USA have against Mr Kross? The list of alleged accusations against the man is lengthy. In the lobbies, the wildest of stories are being told. All we do know is there are reasons Mr Kross fell into the undesired list, and there are reasons he stays there.

Whether Mr Kross’ spot in the Interpol wanted list is justified or not, the fact remains: there are countries hard or even impossible for Mr Kross to enter. The danger being for him to be caught, there, and extradited to Russia.

Mr Kross could use some diplomatic immunity. And not just any immunity, but such as would seem just and fair in eyes of public, USA, and Interpol. An immunity obtained by hustling of a friend would not do. To obtain the right kind of immunity, one needs to run for European Parliament; that failing, into Riigikogu. In either case, the immunity is rock solid, provided by mandate by the people. That would be his redemption.

Mr Kross aside, the hostage crisis reaches all the way to defence minister Mr Reinsalu. In the entire story, he is an accomplice having trusted Mr Kross. Knowingly, he has employed, as his adviser, a person regarding whom suspicions have been filed from East and West alike; as the suspicions surfaced, he publicly defended Mr Kross. Should evidence emerge confirming the suspicions, not only Mr Kross would be in trouble – but Mr Reinsalu as well.

Personally, Mr Kross takes it all with a placid smile – just as we’d expect a good spy to do.