European Public Prosecutor's Office to take over probe into RKIK-Datasel deals

Estonia's State Prosecutor's Office will not expand the criminal proceeding launched in 2025 to separately investigate deals between the Centre for Defence Investment (RKIK) and the company Datasel. Instead, that investigation will be taken over by the European Public Prosecutor's Office.

Estonia's Prosecutor General Astrid Asi said on Thursday that prosecutors had reviewed information about the RKIK-Datasel deals published in a National Audit Office report and in the media. According to her, the data give grounds to check whether a crime was committed when the deals were concluded.

Because the possible violations involve funds managed by the European Union, Estonian prosecutors discussed the circumstances with counterparts from the European Public Prosecutor's Office. The two sides concluded that the matter falls under the competence of the European Public Prosecutor's Office, which will take control of the investigation.

At the same time, the State Prosecutor's Office will continue the criminal proceeding opened in 2025. Within that case, prosecutors are examining information from the National Audit Office's report, including whether obligations were breached in organizing reporting and accounting within the Ministry of Defence's area of management, and whether there are grounds to suspect the concealment or destruction of documents.

As part of the same proceeding, prosecutors are also analyzing other information from a new National Audit Office report published in 2026 that is unrelated to the RKIK-Datasel deals.

As a reminder, the publication of the new report led to changes in the government's composition and in the Ministry of Defence's leadership. On September 10, Defence Ministry Chancellor Kaimo Kuusk was removed from office, and on September 2, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur (Reform Party) announced his resignation.