Pro-Kremlin propagandist detained in Estonia

This was reported by the Estonian State Prosecutor's Office, according to European Pravda, citing Postimees.

According to the suspicion, since at least 2022, Oleg Besedin, in cooperation with individuals acting in the interests of russian special services, has been involved in russia's information influence.

‘We have previously pointed out the security threats associated with Besedin's activities in our annual reports and public statements. Today, there are grounds to suspect Besedin of a state crime,’ said Taavi Narits, Deputy Director General of the Security Police Department.

‘With the help of the Kremlin's information influence, in which Besedin is suspected of participating, attempts were made to create opportunities for russia to interfere in the internal affairs of the Republic of Estonia,’ he added.

Among other things, Oleg Besedin is suspected of repeatedly distributing content from russian media channels that are subject to sanctions. This is considered a violation of European Union sanctions.

"In Estonia, non-violent activities directed against the Republic of Estonia that harm our independence, sovereignty or territorial integrity are punishable as a state crime. Active, targeted participation in russian influence activities is also punishable. According to the suspicion, Oleg Besedin's actions went beyond constitutionally protected discussion and turned into targeted activities in the interests of a state hostile to Estonia," said Chief Public Prosecutor Taavi Pern.

One of the first to report the arrest of the well-known blogger and propagandist, administrator of the Tallinners group, Oleg Besedin, on the evening of 4 November was former member of the board of the pro-Kremlin party Koos, Oleg Ivanov.

In a video message posted on his personal Facebook page, Ivanov, who fled to russia in 2024, said he had ‘extremely unpleasant news’: "The news is as follows: Today at 11 a.m., thugs broke into the studio of Oleg Besedin, my colleague on YouTube and my friend.‘

Ivanov said that there were twenty employees of the Security Police Department. ’They conducted a search all day and allegedly found something," Ivanov said.

According to him, Besedin was taken away at 7 p.m. ‘We do not know Oleg's fate at this time,’ said the former co-founder of Koos. Yesterday, the russian-language Facebook group ‘Tallinners,’ administered by Besedin, was blocked. His YouTube channel no longer appears in search results.

Oleg Ivanov complained that these were the last channels in Estonia that provided an opportunity for people with any views to speak, including those whose opinions they – Besedin and Ivanov – did not share. In fact, those who followed Besedin and Ivanov's activities note that there were no opinions on the channels that differed from their own.

Oleg Ivanov himself is currently wanted internationally. Estonia has issued a warrant for his arrest not because of his openly pro-Kremlin activities, but because of suspected cryptocurrency fraud.

Source: European Pravda, Postimees