Estonian ForMin: Kohver's lawyer is not following professional ethics

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According to Estonian Foreign Ministry the lawyer of Eston Kohver, the Estonian Internal Security Service official held in custody in Russia since Sept. 5 on espionage charges, Yevgeny Aksyonov is not following lawyers' professional ethics.

«It is regrettable that the lawyer, Aksyonov, is not following lawyers' professional ethics and is discussing in public details of Eston Kohver's legislative proceeding,» spokespeople for the ministry told BNS.

«The Foreign Ministry and Estonia's embassy in Moscow are doing everything possible to defend Eston Kohver who is being detained unlawfully and to ensure that he is released as soon as possible and returns home,» spokespeople said. «At the same time the ministry has no reason to believe that the ongoing process is objective and fair,» they added.

The Estonian Internal Security Service said on Sept. 5 their official was deprived of his freedom in Estonian territory near the checkpoint of Luhamaa on the Estonian-Russian border by unidentified individuals coming from Russia at 9 a.m. that morning. The official, who was performing official duties related to the prevention of cross-border crime, was taken to Russia at gunpoint using physical force. The kidnapping was preceded by interference of operational radio communication and use of a smoke grenade from the direction of Russia.

At present Kohver is being held at Moscow's Lefortovo prison.

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