Pro‑Russian activist jailed for Estonia vandalism plot

It was proven in court that 47-year-old Allan Hantsom established connections with people acting in the interest of, and under orders from, Russian military intelligence GRU.

- The man was planning and preparing attacks against property in Estonia - said prosecutor Triinu Olev-Aas at a conference. She revealed that a sum of approximately $10,600 was promised for the car destruction. - However, the money was never delivered, - she added.

Estonian intelligence identified a total of 10 individuals associated with the operation. According to investigators, the purpose of this hybrid operation was to "sow fear and create tension in Estonian society."

The windows of the personal car of Minister of the Interior Lauri Laanemets were smashed at the beginning of December last year. On the same day, the car of the editor of the Russian-language version of one of the main national news portals was also vandalized.

The court in Tallinn issued a verdict in this case in the spring of this year. The Director of the Estonian intelligence agency KAPO, Margo Palloson, admitted that further attacks on the property of other public figures were planned but were thwarted thanks to Hantsom's arrest. Previously, he was actively involved in pro-Russian circles and engaged in anti-NATO campaigns.

The case also involved men currently residing in Russia, who, on behalf of the GRU, planned and organized attacks on monuments in Estonia. The prosecution and KAPO simultaneously appealed to residents to report any information about various orders or plans for sabotage actions to authorities.