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Russia jails Estonia border guard Kohver for 15 years Russia jails Estonia border guard Kohver for 15 years
(about 1 hour later)
A court in Russia has sentenced Estonian security official Eston Kohver to 15 years in prison for espionage and other charges.A court in Russia has sentenced Estonian security official Eston Kohver to 15 years in prison for espionage and other charges.
Kohver was detained at the Russian border on last September in a case that provoked a diplomatic row.Kohver was detained at the Russian border on last September in a case that provoked a diplomatic row.
Estonia and the EU insist the officer was abducted on Estonian soil. Kohver says he is not guilty.
Russia's domestic security service, the FSB, said he was on a "spying operation" on Russian territory.Russia's domestic security service, the FSB, said he was on a "spying operation" on Russian territory.
But Estonia denied the accusation and says its officer was "abducted" on Estonian soil. After his arrest for spying near the Luhamaa border checkpoint on 5 September, the security official was charged with other crimes including smuggling arms and illegally crossing the Russian state border, according to Interfax news agency.
After his arrest for spying on 5 September last year, Kohver was charged with other crimes including smuggling arms and illegally crossing the Russian state border, according to Interfax news agency. As well as the prison sentence, the court in the western Pskov region ordered him to pay a fine of 100,000 roubles (£970; €1,800).
The Estonian foreign ministry condemned Wednesday's verdict, saying it constituted a "blatant breach of international law". 'Staged'
Estonian Prime Minister Taavi Roivas condemned Wednesday's verdict, calling it "a clear and grave violation of international law".
"The staged court case that formed a verdict suitable for the Russian authorities has nothing to do with a fair trial," he said in a statement.
Estonia denies Kohver was operating as a spy and says he had been investigating smuggling operations involving Russian officials.
The dispute comes amid heightened tensions between Estonia and Russia.The dispute comes amid heightened tensions between Estonia and Russia.
In 2004, the Baltic state joined Nato and the EU. Both bodies accuse Russia of directly helping separatists in eastern Ukraine with regular troops and heavy weapons. Russia denies the claims.In 2004, the Baltic state joined Nato and the EU. Both bodies accuse Russia of directly helping separatists in eastern Ukraine with regular troops and heavy weapons. Russia denies the claims.
In a statement, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini called on Russia to release Eston Kohver, saying he had been been deprived of the right to a fair trial "from the very beginning".
There was no public hearing of the case, the Estonian consul was not allowed to be present at the hearings and Kohver was deprived of adequate legal aid, she said.
Kohver is expected to be swapped for one of the Russian spies held in Estonia, according to Estonia's public radio.
Prosecutors had called for him to be sentenced to 16 years in prison and fined 200,000 roubles, reports say.