Estonia Jails Three Men For Spying For Russia

Estonian authorities say they have jailed three men convicted of spying for Russia.

The state prosecutor's office announced on February 23 that the three men, described as smugglers, were sentenced in trials between October 2015 and February 2016.

They received sentences ranging from two years to four years and ten months for supplying information to Russian security services on the movements and operations of Estonia's security service, defense forces, and border guards.

The group includes Estonians Aleksandr Rudnev and Maksim Gruzdev, and stateless Pavel Romanov. All are ethnic Russian.

Estonia, a former Soviet republic who became a member of the European Union and NATO, has expressed growing concern over Russia's actions in Ukraine and an apparent increase in Russian military activities close to its borders.

Based on reporting by AFP and Reuters