Estonia could cancel Sweden prison lease with 12 months’ notice

Estonia could terminate its prison lease agreement with Sweden relatively easily if there is the political will to do so, ERR reported, citing Estonian Prison Service head Rait Kuuse. The agreement contains no sanctions or contractual fines, he said.

Both parties can end the agreement at any time without additional conditions, provided they give 12 months’ notice. The deadline can also be shortened in the event of an emergency, Kuuse said.

“If the relevant notes are exchanged through diplomatic channels stating that one party believes the international agreement should be terminated, we will begin preparations with Sweden so that the agreement is terminated no later than 12 months later and all prisoners have returned to Swedish prisons,” Kuuse said.

The opposition Isamaa and Centre Party have pledged to cancel the agreement if they enter government.

Anneli Ott, Centre’s secretary general and head of its Tartu branch, said the lease should be terminated even if no serious problems or negative effects have emerged by spring.

“These effects may not necessarily appear quickly, but the longer and more extensively this service is provided, the greater the risk that the expected problems will arise and worsen,” Ott said.

Isamaa politician Tõnis Lukas also said his party would end the agreement if it joined the next government. He said Isamaa’s chair had informed Sweden’s prime minister that the agreement would likely have consequences for Estonia that had not been anticipated.

The first Swedish prisoners are expected to arrive at Tartu Prison this or next week. The exact timing has not been disclosed for security reasons, and most of the prisoners are expected to arrive via Tartu Airport.

Kuuse said the public would be informed of their successful arrival only after the prisoners had reached the prison.

“The first thing to prevent is the risk of escape. It is certainly in nobody’s interest for situations to arise during transport in which an escape becomes possible,” Kuuse said, adding that the agreement had generated a certain degree of tension in society and that maximum security was therefore appropriate.

Up to 600 Swedish prisoners are expected to arrive in Tartu over the course of a year. Sweden will cover the costs, paying Estonia between 31 million and 61 million euros annually, depending on the number of prisoners.