On September 3, the Estonian Security Police (KAPO) detained two individuals for alleged treason, Deniss Metsavas (b. 1980) and his father Pjotr Volin (b. 1953). The men are suspected of providing state secrets and highly classified information of Estonia`s allies to the Intelligence Chief Directorate of the Armed Forces General Staff (GRU) of the Russian Federation.
Metsavas is a commssioned career officer with the rank of major, working at the HQ of the Estonian Defence Forces and, a veteran of the Estonian military mission in Afganistan. He was about to start serving a rotating term with the Estonian Defence League just at the time of his arrest.
However the most troubling aspect of his arrest for allegedly committing treason is his reputation for being a highly regarded, capable and seemingly patriotic soldier with a bright future replete with promotions. Some officers have said he was the ‘poster-boy’ of those highly commended officers with ethnic Russian heritage.
Why did Metsavas agree to recruitment by the GRU? (Pikemalt Eesti Elu 12. okt. 2018 paberlehes)