Estonia said it has unveiled a plan by locals to create a paramilitary force under the guise of a charitable organization to take over the government – with assistance from Russia’s Military Intelligence (GRU).
Estonian State Prosecutor Triinu Olev-Aas said that politician Aivo Peterson of the Koos political party, alongside a suspect called Dmitri Rootsi and leading figures of Koos such as Eduard Fedotov and Julia Smoli, tried to create a civil defense unit in 2022 with a parallel structure to the Estonian military.
Olev-Aas said the group tried to enlist those with firearms licenses and expand into all municipalities, according to Estonian outlet Postimees.
“Peterson repeatedly stated in his conversations with Fedotov that the unit’s task was to handle security, organize defense, and fulfill the role of the army in case of a power vacuum,” Olev-Aas said.
He cited Peterson’s experience with the Estonian Police and Border Guard Board and said he should thus be aware that defense remains the responsibility of the state.
“According to the prosecution, this supports the conclusion that Peterson aimed to create a civil defense unit as a parallel structure to the official national defense organizations,” Olev-Aas added.
Olev-Aas also claimed that the group contacted individuals affiliated with Russia’s GRU spy agency with Peterson and Rootsi’s knowledge.
“Therefore, the statements Peterson made during the trial claiming that no Russian individuals or organizations were approached for advice or guidance during the planning of the unit cannot be considered credible,” he said.
Postimees, citing Olev-Aas, said Peterson tried to portray the group as a charitable organization.
“The prosecutor stated that Peterson wanted to present his unit to the public as a charitable organization, but in reality, his goal was to create a network involving people from every village and apartment association,” the publication stated.
On March 10, 2023, Estonia’s Internal Security Service (ISS) arrested Peterson, Rootsi, and a third suspect, Andrei Andronov, according to Estonian outlet ERR’s report at the time.
Prosecutors say Peterson and Rootsi worked with Russian authorities to undermine Estonia’s independence. On May 22, 2025, prosecutors asked for prison sentences of 17 years for Peterson, 13 years for Rootsi, and 11 years for Andronov.
Estonia, which borders Russia and was formerly annexed by the USSR, has voiced concerns about a potential Russian invasion in recent years.
On April 23, Estonian Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Major General Vahur Karus said the country plans to establish a military base in the town of Narva, located directly on the border with Russia.
In March, Estonian lawmakers voted to restrict voting rights for non-EU citizens in a move to target the Russian minorities within the country, citing security concerns due to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, according to France 24.