TALLIN, October 15 (RIA Novosti) – Estonia intends to use US experience to increase security along its border with Russia, the press service of the Estonian Interior Ministry said in a statement quoting Interior Minister Hanno Pevkur on Wednesday.
"I would like to have a closer cooperation with the United States in terms of increasing border security. The experience of the United States in securing its external borders, for example, and training personnel will surely help us set up quick border reaction forces and develop 'the control line' between Estonia and Russia," Pevkur was quoted as saying by the press service.
According to the Estonian interior minister, who has had meetings with US Attorney General Eric Holder, FBI Director James Comey and US Assistant Secretary of Defense Derek Chollet, Estonia has been collaborating with the United States for a long time in the defense sector, as well as in other areas, and this cooperation will only expand.
Estonia raised the issue of increasing security on the border with Russia after an incident in September when Estonian intelligence agent Eston Kohver was accused by Russian authorities of espionage. The Estonian government said Kohver was abducted by unidentified individuals in Estonia not far from the Estonian-Russian border and transported to Russia.
On September 5, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said that Kohver was detained in the Pskov Region in Russia with hidden recording devices, a Taurus pistol and 5,000 euros. Kohver has been charged with espionage and could face between 10 to 20 years in prison. The Estonian national will be detained in Russia until at least November 5.
