Russia dismissed Western criticism over the sentencing of an Estonian police officer to 15 years in prison for espionage, a case that is adding to tensions between Moscow and the West.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on August 20 that the trial was in line with Russian and international laws, and all Kohver's rights were safeguarded. It accused the West of trying to "politicize" a criminal case.
A Russian court's sentencing of the Estonian police officer, Eston Kohver, on August 19 triggered an angry reaction from Tallinn and criticism from the European Union and the United States.
Russia arrested Kohver on espionage charges last September and said he was caught on Russian territory. Tallinn said he was taken at gunpoint at a border crossing and denounced his detention as illegal.
Brussels and Washington said Russia violated international law in handling the case and expressed concern that his rights for a proper defense were violated.