The court convicted Viatcheslav Morozov of intelligence activity
Office of the Prosecutor General
Estonian Internal Security Service
Press release
18.06.2024
On 18 June, Harju District Court convicted Viatcheslav Morozov of activities against the Republic of Estonia in the interests or on the assignment of a foreign security service under subsection 1 of § 2342 of the Penal Code, and imposed a punishment of 6 years and 3 months of actual imprisonment on him.
State Prosecutor Taavi Pern said that the Harju District Court’s judgment verified the fact that Viatcheslav Morozov had a long-term cooperation with the operational intelligence unit of the Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (GRU). “Russia’s special services tasked Morozov with collecting information about the Republic of Estonia’s internal, defence and security policies, as well as the people and infrastructure connected to these fields in Estonia,” said State Prosecutor Taavi Pern.
“For example, Morozov sent Russia’s special services information about Estonia’s political situation and elections, alliances, and social integration. This included facts he had access to as a researcher as well as public information that Russia can use to endanger Estonia,” added State Prosecutor Pern.
GRU did not interfere with his academic activity. Morozov received a fee for the tasks of an intelligence agent, however, this was not the motive behind the commission of the criminal offence, as the sums were insignificant.
Morozov acted in conspiracy and on instructions from the GRU. “Morozov's case shows that sooner or later we will get to the most conspiratorial agent. We advise those working for the Russian special services to contact us themselves," said Margo Palloson, the Director General of the Estonian Internal Security Service.
Russian security authorities operate covertly in recruiting people to perform the tasks of an intelligence agent, and use different manipulation tactics. Morozov was recruited by Russian intelligence services at university and was trained at a military faculty. GRU ordered him to start active operation when he moved to Estonia. The decisions Morozov made in the distant past affected him years later.
Officers of Russian special services are faculty member of Russian universities and recruit people at the institutions. Therefore, the Estonian Internal Security Service advises against going to study in Russia. Russia poses the greatest threat to Estonia’s security. The purpose of the country is to demolish and restructure European security architecture and rule-based world order, and restore its imperial dream. This is what it is doing in Ukraine today. Be careful in travelling to Russia or communicating with its state authorities or officials; if they express interest in you, be sure to notify the Estonian Internal Security Service.
The criminal proceedings were directed by the Office of the Prosecutor General and conducted by the Estonian Internal Security Service.