Swapped Estonian Officer Accused of Espionage May Continue Security Service

Earlier in the day, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement that Kohver, sentenced to 15 years in Russia for espionage, was swapped for former Estonian security officer Alexei Dressen serving a sentence for confidential data transfer to Russia.

TALLINN (Sputnik) — Eston Kohver, an Estonian intelligence officer, is likely to continue security service, the Estonian Internal Security Service chief said Saturday.

"I do not see any reasons why he [Kohver] might not continue working for us. I suppose that he has prospects," Arnold Sinisalu said at a press conference, stressing that the final decision rests with Kohver himself.

On August 19, the regional court of the northwest Russian city of Pskov sentenced Kohver to 15 years in jail for espionage, possession of firearms, as well as illegally crossing the state border.

Kohver was detained in September 2014 in Pskov region, bordering Estonia, in possession of recording devices, a pistol and 5,000 euros (over $5,500) in cash and engaged in conducting an undercover operation.

Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves pardoned Saturday former Estonian security officer Alexei Dressen prior to swapping him for security officer Eston Kohver, Interior Minister Hanno Pevkur told reporters.

“Kohver was exchanged for Alexei Dressen today. For this to happen, President Ilves pardoned Dressen, and Russian President [Vladimir Putin] satisfied Kohver's clemency petition,” Pevkur said at a press conference.