Local pro-Kremlin politicians in Estonia, Aivo Peterson and Dmitri Roots, planned to create a parallel defense structure with the support of Russian military intelligence, the GRU.
This was reported by the Estonian newspaper Postimees, citing details of the charges presented in court.
State prosecutor Triinu Olev-Aas stated that the accused of treason, Peterson and Roots, began forming a civil defense unit in 2022 with backing from the Koos movement. This unit was intended to take over the functions of the armed forces in case of a crisis.
In correspondence presented to the court, Peterson emphasized that the group’s goal was to "ensure security and perform army functions" in the event of a "power vacuum."
The prosecution also says Peterson and Roots authorized contacts with representatives of Russian military intelligence (formerly the GRU) to receive instructions and assistance in creating the unit. Publicly, Peterson claimed the project was humanitarian in nature, but prosecutors view it as an attempt to establish an alternative state defense structure operating under the guise of charity.
“Peterson himself worked for over 10 years in the police, so he knew well that the defense of the country is an exclusive prerogative of the state,” Olev-Aas emphasized.
The prosecutor demands that Peterson be found guilty of treason and sentenced to 17 years in prison.
The prosecutor also demands a 13-year sentence for Roots, who is charged with treason, and an 11-year sentence for Andrei Andronov, charged with non-violent actions against the Republic of Estonia.
In 2023, Peterson ran for the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) elections on a joint electoral list of the United Left Party and Koos.
