The Estonian Internal Security Service (ISS) announced on Tuesday that it has apprehended ten individuals since December, suspecting them of acting on behalf of a Russian special service. Evidence gathered for a criminal case suggests that the Russian special service orchestrated a "hybrid operation" targeting Estonia, an EU and NATO member, as per the ISS statement.
The detainees, whose identities remain undisclosed, are believed to have collected information for planning potential attacks. The primary objective of these activities seems to be "sowing fear and creating tension in Estonian society," according to the ISS statement.
The detained individuals were allegedly instructed to carry out various criminal acts, including vandalizing memorials and smashing the windows of cars belonging to the interior minister and a journalist.
Margo Palloson, the director-general of ISS, revealed that some suspects were recruited through social media. He emphasized that Russian special services have been attempting to create tension in Estonia through various means over the years.
Estonia, one of the Baltic states formerly part of the Soviet Union, has a population where ethnic Russians constitute about 22 percent, according to EU figures. The ongoing efforts to disrupt the nation's social fabric and sow discord underscore the complex dynamics at play in the region.
AFP