Judge presiding over Estonian security official's trial in Russia replaced

Photo: Liis Treimann

The case of Estonian Internal Security Service (ISS) official Eston Kohver charged with spying in Russia has been handed over to judge Yulia Ulanova of the Pskov regional court.

The change of judge is connected with the transfer of the case from Moscow to the Pskov court, the new judge's assistant Yekaterina Brusova told Postimees Online. Kohver's case has been officially in the hands of the regional court since July 13.

Previously judge Larisa Bobrova was in charge of the case.

The closed-door trial of Kohver will continue on Monday, a spokeswoman for the regional court said.

The Estonian security official has been charged with espionage, possession and smuggling of a firearm, and nine counts of illegal border crossing. Estonia regards the charges as fabricated and demands Kohver's immediate release.

The ISS said on Sept. 5, 2014 that a member of their staff had been deprived of his freedom on Estonian territory near the checkpoint of Luhamaa on the Estonian-Russian border and taken to Russia by unidentified individuals coming from Russia at 9 a.m. that morning. The security agent, who was performing official duties related to the prevention of cross-border crime, was taken to Russia at gunpoint using physical force. The abduction was preceded by interference of operational radio communication and use of a smoke grenade from the direction of Russia.

Kohver was held in the Lefortovo prison of Moscow until his transfer to Pskov for the trial.