European Parliament calls Russia to release the abducted Estonian citizen immediately

The European Parliament called Russia to release the abducted Estonian Internal Security official Eston Kohver, in a resolution approved on Thursday.

The call, part of the wider resolution regarding bilateral relations between the European Union and Russia, demands for an immediate release of Eston Kohver.

The paragraph concerning the release of Kohver was added to the resolution by an Estonian member of the European Parliament, Tunne Kelam.

Kelam, who is a member of the European People’s Party at the European Parliament, found also support from the European Socialists and Liberals.

"The maximum that the European Parliament can do is to offer unequivocal support for the abducted Estonian citizen, and demand his release with immediate effect," Kelam said.

"I’m grateful that we have achieved a wide political support in this matter at the European Parliament," he added.

Eston Kohver was abducted on 5 September when he was in the line of duty and collecting information on cross-border corruption within the framework of an information collection plan in the vicinity of the Estonian-Russian border in Võru County, Southern Estonia.

He was near Russian border mark No 121 where has threatened with firearm, deprived of his liberty, and taken against his will from Republic of Estonia to the Russian Federation.