At the Koidula border crossing, Estonia and Russia exchanged convicts for espionage, ERR news agency reported citing the press service of the Security Police (KaPo). Returned to Russia Artem Zinchenko, in Estonia - Raivo Suzy.

Both convicts filed petitions for pardon, which were met by the presidents of Russia and Estonia. According to the general director of KaPo, the parties concluded an agreement that would suit both states. "The Estonian state helps its citizens as soon as it can. Estonia sent to Russia committed a crime in the form of secret wiretapping, and Estonian businessman due to this can return to relatives after a long detention in Russia, "said Sinisalu.

The previous similar exchange occurred in September 2015. Then the former employee of KaPo Eston Cochver, convicted in Russia, was exchanged for the former officer of Capo Alexei Dressen, who was serving a sentence in Estonia for transferring secret data to Russia.

Last May, the Harju County Court sentenced Zinchenko, a 30-year-old Russian citizen, to five years in prison for illegally cooperating with Russian military intelligence in Russia. As established by the investigation, the GRU recruited Zinchenko in 2009. Beginning in 2013 and before his detention on January 9, 2017, the man actively participated in the intelligence and operational work. Basically, his tasks included collecting information on state security objects and vital facilities in Estonia, as well as on the movement of military equipment of the Estonian Defense Forces and allies in the country. He was also instructed to obtain samples of military equipment, for example, communications equipment.

On February 11, 2016, the Estonian businessman Susi was detained in the transit zone of the Sheremetyevo airport. He was offered to drive to the FSB building on the Lubyanka, and on the next day, on the decision of the Lefortovo district court, they sent him to the Lefortovo detention center.

December 11 last year the Moscow City Court sentenced Susie to 12 years of strict security under Article 276 of the Criminal Code (espionage). The hearings were held in closed mode, the case was stamped "top secret". According to the lawyer Anatoly Tolpegin, the crime charged to the Estonians "took place in 2004-2007".

Edge.