Something very unusual happened in Estonia when the Harju County Court (Tallinn) ruled August 10 that an Estonian national suspected of having taken part in acts of terrorism in the east of Ukraine be extradited to that country. According to the Estonian newspaper Eesti Paevaleht, this is the first such ruling in the history of Estonian justice.
Vladimir, a 34-year-old Russian ethnic citizen of Estonia (his last name was not revealed for the obvious reason), was apprehended by the Kaitsepolitsei Estonian Internal Security Service in February, at a border checkpoint while en route to Russia, on board a bus, and found to have in his possession illegal weapons and ammunition, reads the story. He was to join a Russia-backed terrorist unit in the east of Ukraine, precisely in Luhansk oblast. Further investigation revealed that Vladimir had twice visited that area in 2014, each time staying for a month.
Eesti Paevaleht quotes Lead-Prosecutor Steven-Hristo Evestus as saying: “On both occasions when Vladimir went to Ukraine he joined an armed group that was active in Lugansk region [Luhansk oblast], which – according to information obtained from Ukraine – aimed to commit terrorist crimes against the state of Ukraine… According to evidence already gathered, Estonian citizen Vladimir participated in guarding and moving of prisoners taken by his unit. But it cannot be ruled out that he might have taken part in battles against the state of Ukraine.” The prosecutor also made it clear that Vladimir had not traveled to Ukraine as an adventuresome backpacker, that from day one he had known where to go, whom to join, and what he would do.
Vladimir has a criminal record, having beaten a man to death, allegedly because he was taking his time crossing the street and Vladimir, sitting at the wheel of his car, just couldn’t stand it. He got out of the car, they exchanged harsh words and then got into a brawl ending in the other man’s death. Vladimir tried to avoid justice and joined the Foreign Legion of France, but when he returned to Estonia he was arrested, tried and served a term in prison. His criminal record also lists DUI involving narcotic drugs.
Mr. Evestus admitted that this was the first such case the Prosecutor’s Office had ever dealt with, that an unprecedented decision had to be made: “We hadn’t practiced this but were prepared for something like this to take place in Estonia.” He explained that trials on charges of terrorism had been simulated until the Vladimir case.
Criminal prosecution commenced on the strength of evidence provided by the Kaitsepolitsei. Ukrainian authorities, particularly the State Prosecutor’s Office, were invited to take part in the prejudicial inquiry. Ukrainian officials visited Estonia to familiarize themselves with the case.
Ukraine should, of course, take advantage of the situation, get hold of the first live foreign legionnaire who fought on the side of the Kremlin-backed terrorists in the east and have him stand trial in full media limelight to teach other mercenaries a lesson.
