This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/06/world/europe/russia-detains-estonian-officer-raising-tensions.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Russia Detains Estonian Officer, Raising Tensions Russia and Estonia Differ Over Detention
(about 3 hours later)
MOSCOW — A strange incident near the Russian-Estonian border on Friday ended with an Estonian intelligence officer in Russian custody and the two countries trading sharply contradictory allegations about what happened. MOSCOW — A strange incident near the Russian-Estonian border on Friday ended with an Estonian intelligence officer in Russian custody and the two countries trading sharply contradictory allegations about what happened.
Estonia’s president and prime minister, among other officials, said the officer had been kidnapped at gunpoint from their territory and forced across the border in a blatant violation of sovereignty. The Russian Federal Security Service said the officer was in Russia and engaged in a clandestine operation when he was detained.Estonia’s president and prime minister, among other officials, said the officer had been kidnapped at gunpoint from their territory and forced across the border in a blatant violation of sovereignty. The Russian Federal Security Service said the officer was in Russia and engaged in a clandestine operation when he was detained.
The episode threatened to heighten tensions between Russia and the NATO alliance, to which Estonia belongs, at a time when relations are already severely strained over the conflict in Ukraine. It came just two days after President Obama gave a speech in Tallinn, the Estonian capital, pledging that NATO would defend the Baltics against Russian aggression and suggesting that any attack on them would lead to war with the West.The episode threatened to heighten tensions between Russia and the NATO alliance, to which Estonia belongs, at a time when relations are already severely strained over the conflict in Ukraine. It came just two days after President Obama gave a speech in Tallinn, the Estonian capital, pledging that NATO would defend the Baltics against Russian aggression and suggesting that any attack on them would lead to war with the West.
Although the intelligence officer was apparently detained around 9 a.m., the Russian security service, known as the F.S.B., did not acknowledge the incident until Friday evening, when it issued a statement to three Russian news agencies.Although the intelligence officer was apparently detained around 9 a.m., the Russian security service, known as the F.S.B., did not acknowledge the incident until Friday evening, when it issued a statement to three Russian news agencies.
Senior Estonian officials, including the director of the country’s Internal Security Service, held a news conference in the late afternoon, saying the officer had been abducted after unknown assailants set off a stun grenade and jammed communication signals. At the time of his capture, the officer was investigating a criminal case in the area of Luhamaa, Estonia, a little more than a mile from the border with Russia, officials said, according to Estonian news reports.Senior Estonian officials, including the director of the country’s Internal Security Service, held a news conference in the late afternoon, saying the officer had been abducted after unknown assailants set off a stun grenade and jammed communication signals. At the time of his capture, the officer was investigating a criminal case in the area of Luhamaa, Estonia, a little more than a mile from the border with Russia, officials said, according to Estonian news reports.
The officials said they met with Russian border guards in the afternoon, but the guards professed no knowledge of the matter. The officials said they met with Russian border guards, but the guards professed no knowledge of the matter.
This is hardly the first time the Russian government has been accused of kidnapping across international borders.This is hardly the first time the Russian government has been accused of kidnapping across international borders.
In 2012, Leonid Razvozzhayev, a Russian political opposition leader who fled to Ukraine and contacted United Nations officials in Kiev in hopes of applying for political asylum, was forced into a van outside his lawyer’s office and reappeared under arrest in Moscow. The Russian authorities said he had surrendered.In 2012, Leonid Razvozzhayev, a Russian political opposition leader who fled to Ukraine and contacted United Nations officials in Kiev in hopes of applying for political asylum, was forced into a van outside his lawyer’s office and reappeared under arrest in Moscow. The Russian authorities said he had surrendered.
And this summer, the Ukrainian government accused Russia of abducting Nadiia Savchenko, a Ukrainian helicopter navigator, who was apparently detained by separatists in war-torn eastern Ukraine and resurfaced in prison in the Russian city of Voronezh. Russian officials said she had crossed the border posing as a refugee. And this summer, the Ukrainian government accused Russia of abducting Nadiia Savchenko, a Ukrainian helicopter navigator, who was apparently detained by separatists in eastern Ukraine and resurfaced in prison in the Russian city of Voronezh. Russian officials said she had crossed the border posing as a refugee.
Russia, in turn, has accused the United States of engaging in similar behavior, most recently in the case of an accused computer hacker, Roman Seleznev, who was arrested in Guam. Russia has also accused the United States of illegal arresting and convicting a reputed global arms trafficker, Viktor Bout.Russia, in turn, has accused the United States of engaging in similar behavior, most recently in the case of an accused computer hacker, Roman Seleznev, who was arrested in Guam. Russia has also accused the United States of illegal arresting and convicting a reputed global arms trafficker, Viktor Bout.
Urmas Paet, the Estonian foreign minister, called the apparent abduction of the intelligence officer “very disturbing” and summoned the Russian ambassador to discuss the situation. President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Prime Minister Taavi Roivas each issued a statement denouncing the incident and demanding Russian assistance in investigating it.Urmas Paet, the Estonian foreign minister, called the apparent abduction of the intelligence officer “very disturbing” and summoned the Russian ambassador to discuss the situation. President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Prime Minister Taavi Roivas each issued a statement denouncing the incident and demanding Russian assistance in investigating it.
Calling it “unacceptable and deplorable,” Mr. Ilves said that those responsible had “invaded the territory of Estonia.”Calling it “unacceptable and deplorable,” Mr. Ilves said that those responsible had “invaded the territory of Estonia.”
In the F.S.B. statement to the Russian news outlets, the security agency identified the Estonian intelligence officer as Eston Kohver, of the Tartu division of the Internal Security Service, a part of the Interior Ministry. The statement said that Mr. Kohver “has been detained on Russian territory” and that he was found to be carrying a Taurus pistol and ammunition cartridges, 5,000 euros (about $6,500), surveillance equipment and “intelligence-gathering instructions.” In the F.S.B. statement, the security agency identified the Estonian intelligence officer as Eston Kohver, of the Tartu division of the Internal Security Service, a part of the Interior Ministry. The statement said that Mr. Kohver “has been detained on Russian territory” and that he was found to be carrying a Taurus pistol and ammunition cartridges, 5,000 euros (about $6,500), surveillance equipment and “intelligence-gathering instructions.”
“Kohver is detained, and the necessary investigative steps are being carried out,” the agency said.“Kohver is detained, and the necessary investigative steps are being carried out,” the agency said.
Estonia shares a border of roughly 180 miles with Russia, much of it in the middle of Lake Peipus. The border crossing near Luhamaa is in the extreme southeast corner of Estonia, on a main highway between Pskov, Russia, and Riga, Latvia, that passes through Estonian territory.Estonia shares a border of roughly 180 miles with Russia, much of it in the middle of Lake Peipus. The border crossing near Luhamaa is in the extreme southeast corner of Estonia, on a main highway between Pskov, Russia, and Riga, Latvia, that passes through Estonian territory.
Many Russian officials, including President Vladimir V. Putin, harbor a bitter grudge over the membership of the three Baltic countries in NATO, saying that the alliance broke a promise made to Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, that it would not extend its membership farther east than Germany. Many Russian officials, including President Vladimir V. Putin, harbor a grudge over the membership of the three Baltic countries in NATO, saying that the alliance broke a promise to Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, that it would not extend its membership farther east than Germany.
In his speech in the Estonian capital on Wednesday, President Obama voiced firm commitment to protecting the Baltic nations, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. In his speech in the Estonian capital on Wednesday, Mr. Obama voiced firm commitment to protecting the Baltic nations, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.
“The defense of Tallinn and Riga and Vilnius is just as important as the defense of Berlin and Paris and London,” Mr. Obama said, referring to the Baltic capitals. “An attack on one is an attack on all.”“The defense of Tallinn and Riga and Vilnius is just as important as the defense of Berlin and Paris and London,” Mr. Obama said, referring to the Baltic capitals. “An attack on one is an attack on all.”
Noting that the Soviets invaded and occupied the three states without foreign interference in 1939, he said, “If, in such a moment, you ever ask again, ‘Who’ll come to help?’ you’ll know the answer: the NATO alliance, including the armed forces of the United States of America.” He added: “You lost your independence once before. With NATO, you will never lose it again.”Noting that the Soviets invaded and occupied the three states without foreign interference in 1939, he said, “If, in such a moment, you ever ask again, ‘Who’ll come to help?’ you’ll know the answer: the NATO alliance, including the armed forces of the United States of America.” He added: “You lost your independence once before. With NATO, you will never lose it again.”
On the Russian side of the border, foreigners must obtain a special permit to visit the area nearest to Estonia. Last year, Russian security officials briefly stopped three journalists with The New York Times who had traveled there to meet with the mother of Dima Yakovlev, a toddler who died in Texas in 2008 a few months after he was adopted from Russia by an American family. On the Russian side of the border, foreigners must obtain a special permit to visit the area nearest to Estonia. Last year, Russian security officials briefly stopped three journalists with The New York Times who had gone there to meet with the mother of Dima Yakovlev, a toddler who died in Texas in 2008 a few months after he was adopted from Russia by an American family.
Asked by one of the journalists why the area was restricted, a security officer pointed at Estonian territory across Lake Peipus. “This is your NATO,” he said.Asked by one of the journalists why the area was restricted, a security officer pointed at Estonian territory across Lake Peipus. “This is your NATO,” he said.