Police bring wanted Andrei Vesterinen back to Estonia

Police have brought Andrei Vesterinen back to Estonia after Latvian authorities detained him under a European arrest warrant, ERR reported. Vesterinen had avoided an ongoing criminal investigation in Estonia for nearly a year.

Latvian police detained him last week at the Grebneva border crossing on the Russia-Latvia border. On Saturday, they handed him over to Estonian police at the Valga-Valka border crossing. Tartu patrol officers took him into custody, after which he was transferred to Tallinn Prison.

At a court hearing on Monday, the court remanded Vesterinen in custody for the duration of the criminal proceedings, citing the risk that he could flee again to avoid the investigation.

The criminal case concerns the activities of ArmyLaw OÜ. According to the suspicion, the company offered paid legal services intended to help conscripts unlawfully avoid their military service obligation.

After repeatedly failing to appear at court hearings, Vesterinen was first declared wanted in Estonia and later internationally. He was arrested as he left Russia and entered European Union territory.

“The current case shows that international wanted notices and cooperation between law enforcement agencies can produce results even when it takes time to apprehend a person,” prosecutor Kristel Pihlakas said.

Harju County Court declared Vesterinen wanted on September 4, 2025, and issued an arrest warrant to secure the court proceedings. At Monday’s hearing, the court questioned him and left the warrant unchanged, meaning he remains in custody for the duration of the proceedings.

The trial will continue at Harju County Court. The verdict is currently scheduled for October 6.