Estonia Prosecutes Russian-backed perpetrators in plot to overthrow the government
Estonia’s prosecutor’s office has brought formal charges against three individuals accused of attempting to establish an alternative security structure in the country with alleged links to Russian military intelligence. According to state prosecutors, the group maintained contacts with figures associated with the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, during the planning of the operation.
Aivo Peterson, the leader of the Koos (“Together“) movement, stands accused alongside associates Dmytro Rootsi and Andrei Andronov of working to form a paramilitary group under the guise of a civil defence initiative. The proposed unit would have functioned independently of Estonia’s armed forces and police, with the ability to take on state-level responsibilities in the event of what the group described as a “power vacuum.”
The group’s activities reportedly began no later than November 2022 and were organised primarily through Telegram channels and a public-facing charitable organisation. In internal communications, presented as evidence, Peterson is said to have described the structure as one that would “perform the functions of the army” should the state prove unable to do so.
Prosecutors argue that while the group maintained a civilian and legal appearance, its intentions were political and strategic. Communications with suspected GRU operatives suggest the effort was not an isolated domestic initiative but part of a broader effort to undermine the Estonian security framework through indirect means.
Peterson, a former border guard and long-time pro-Russian activist, has previously travelled to Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine, where he produced content denying Russian war crimes and expressing support for the Kremlin’s position. His political party, Koos, participated in Estonia’s 2023 parliamentary elections but failed to win seats.
The Estonian state is seeking prison sentences ranging from 11 to 17 years, including a charge of high treason for Peterson. The case is among the most serious of its kind to emerge in Estonia since the country regained independence in 1991.
Officials in Tallinn have consistently warned of Russia’s use of hybrid tactics, including disinformation, political interference, and covert influence operations aimed at weakening institutions within EU and NATO states.
The current trial is viewed by many as a test case in the legal response to such activities. The court proceedings continue, with further hearings scheduled for the coming weeks. Estonian authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional charges or related investigations.
