Estonia sentences Oleg Besedin to seven years for activity against the state

Harju County Court, through a settlement (plea bargain) procedure, has found Oleg Besedin guilty of activity directed against Estonia's independence and territorial integrity, as well as repeated violations of international sanctions. As a result of the deal with prosecutors, he was sentenced to seven years in prison, with the 11 months he has already spent in custody counted toward the term.

The defense notes that Besedin could be released on parole after about 2.5 years, whereas the average sentence for the two charges could have meant 13 years in prison.

Sworn advocate Dmitri Shkolyar said a deal with the prosecution does not automatically amount to an admission of guilt — neither the prosecutor nor the court directly asked that question — and stressed that the decision to settle was Besedin's personal choice, following an offer from the prosecution. According to the lawyer, the reasons Besedin did not pursue his defense further are tied to an attorney's duty to keep certain details confidential.

Evidence gathered on Russian influence methods

Leading state prosecutor Taavi Pern explained that a settlement is preferable for the state because punishment is secured while significantly fewer resources are spent on litigation. Pern said the proceedings gathered evidence showing it was entirely clear to Besedin that his activity could be punishable, noting he had contacted people who had themselves been accused or already punished for similar conduct.

Prosecutors also said the case produced a substantial body of material on the methods Russia uses to conduct propaganda activity against other countries, including concrete evidence that high-ranking Russian state officials are directly involved in influence operations and recruit other people to take part.

The state will confiscate property belonging to Besedin worth more than 77,000 euros, of which nearly 3,200 euros will go toward covering court costs under the agreement. In return, all seized equipment will be returned to him, along with access to his YouTube account, from which all material published after January 1, 2022 will be deleted.