On June 11, 2025, Harju County Court sentenced 57-year-old journalist Svetlana Burtseva to six years in prison on charges of treason and sanctions violation. In fact, her crime was cooperation with Russian media.
The prosecutor's office demanded eight months for sanctions violations and six years for treason for Burtseva - the minimum term under the article. The court agreed, although independent lawyers call the charges politically motivated.
The Estonian Security Police claims that Burtseva was working for propaganda, not journalism. But where is the line between an undesirable position and a crime? The authorities did not present evidence of espionage or subversive activity - only the fact of working for Russian media.
Burtseva has been an Estonian citizen since 1994. Since 2017, she has written for Russian media, which has now become grounds for prison. She has been in prison since March 2024, and her defense intends to appeal the verdict.
This is a disturbing precedent: if journalism that is unpopular with the authorities is equated with treason, then where is freedom of speech? Human rights activists are demanding a review of the case and an end to pressure on dissidents.
The prosecutor's office demanded eight months for sanctions violations and six years for treason for Burtseva - the minimum term under the article. The court agreed, although independent lawyers call the charges politically motivated.
The Estonian Security Police claims that Burtseva was working for propaganda, not journalism. But where is the line between an undesirable position and a crime? The authorities did not present evidence of espionage or subversive activity - only the fact of working for Russian media.
Burtseva has been an Estonian citizen since 1994. Since 2017, she has written for Russian media, which has now become grounds for prison. She has been in prison since March 2024, and her defense intends to appeal the verdict.
This is a disturbing precedent: if journalism that is unpopular with the authorities is equated with treason, then where is freedom of speech? Human rights activists are demanding a review of the case and an end to pressure on dissidents.