Estonian opposition rages against Swedish prisoners: “Disgusting”

Sweden has agreed with Estonia to rent up to 600 prison places. 

Now the Estonian opposition party Isamaa is furious.

– The mere thought of bringing imported prisoners to Estonia and the consequences for Estonia’s reputation is disgusting, says politician Helir-Valdor Seeder to ERR. 

On Wednesday, the government announced that Sweden and Estonia have entered into an agreement to rent up to 600 prison places at the Estonian Tartu Prison.

The institution should correspond to a Swedish prison in security class 2. Prisoners who may be eligible to serve their sentence outside Sweden’s borders are men over the age of 18 who do not have extensive care needs or who are considered to pose a higher security risk.

This may include people convicted of murder, sexual offenses, or financial crimes.

Estonian Rage

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer will meet with his Estonian counterpart Liisa-Ly Pakosta on June 18 to sign the agreement. The plan is for the proposal to enter into force on July 1, 2026. For the agreement to enter into force, it must be voted through by the Riksdag with a qualified majority, as well as voted through by the Estonian Parliament.

The issue has attracted attention in Estonia, and politicians have different opinions on the matter.

– The agreement gives Sweden the opportunity to place up to 600 low-risk prisoners in Tartu Prison. All maintenance costs related to foreign prisoners will be covered by Sweden, so there will be no additional burden on Estonian taxpayers, says Liisa-Ly Pakosta to Estonian ERR.  

“Is disgusting”

The agreement has angered the conservative opposition party Isamaa. The party’s Helir-Valdor Seeder believes that the government has deceived the Estonian people by calling criminals convicted of murder and sex crimes “low-risk prisoners.”

– The mere thought of bringing imported prisoners to Estonia and the consequences for Estonia’s reputation is disgusting, he tells ERR.

– The government talks about creating security and low-risk prisoners in southern Estonia, while Sweden plans to fill rented prison places with repeat offenders who have committed the most heinous crimes.