According to the State Prosecutor's Office, Svetlana Burtseva knowingly violated international sanctions. According to the results of the pre-trial investigation of the Security Police (KaPo), Burtseva was allegedly not an independent journalist, but worked for Russian propaganda, which was recognized as a crime against the state.
Svetlana Burtseva obtained Estonian citizenship in 1994. Since 2017, she worked for the Russian media group Rossiya Segodnya, creating content for Estonian online publications.
According to the intelligence services, in 2020-2023, she continued to create media content for the Baltnews.ee portal under the pseudonym Alan Torm. In addition, from 2019 to 2021, Burtseva attended the Master's program at Sevastopol State University, where she studied information and hybrid conflicts. After graduation, she published a book “Hybrid War for Peace”, according to KAPO, aimed at discrediting the Republic of Estonia.
Svetlana Burtseva has been in custody since the beginning of March 2024
On 11 June 2025, Harju County Court convicted 57-year-old Estonian citizen Svetlana Burtseva. She was found guilty of treason and violation of international sanctions, and sentenced to six years in prison.
Her defence intends to appeal the verdict, arguing that the prosecution has not provided sufficient evidence of her involvement in activities directed against Estonia.
Svetlana Burtseva obtained Estonian citizenship in 1994. Since 2017, she worked for the Russian media group Rossiya Segodnya, creating content for Estonian online publications.
According to the intelligence services, in 2020-2023, she continued to create media content for the Baltnews.ee portal under the pseudonym Alan Torm. In addition, from 2019 to 2021, Burtseva attended the Master's program at Sevastopol State University, where she studied information and hybrid conflicts. After graduation, she published a book “Hybrid War for Peace”, according to KAPO, aimed at discrediting the Republic of Estonia.
Svetlana Burtseva has been in custody since the beginning of March 2024
On 11 June 2025, Harju County Court convicted 57-year-old Estonian citizen Svetlana Burtseva. She was found guilty of treason and violation of international sanctions, and sentenced to six years in prison.
Her defence intends to appeal the verdict, arguing that the prosecution has not provided sufficient evidence of her involvement in activities directed against Estonia.