Estonia deports Russian national after he was deemed national security threat

Estonia's Internal Security Service (KAPO) has deported David Arutyunyan, a Russian citizen, after he was deemed a threat to the country's national security.

Source: Estonian public broadcaster ERR, citing KAPO in a statement, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Marta Tuul, spokeswoman for KAPO, said Arutyunyan, who held a long-term residence permit in Estonia, had come to the attention of authorities for spreading Russian propaganda historical narratives.

On his Facebook page, he sent greetings to colleagues in the Russian National Guard (Rosgvardiya), praising Russian military units as "peacekeepers".

"Arutyunyan voluntarily enlisted in the Russian military, currently serves in the reserves and actively displays his Russian military service and uniform on social media. He associates himself with a unit of the aggressor state and believes that Russia is conducting a 'special military operation' in Ukraine," Tuul said.

She added that Estonia's Police and Border Guard Board had previously fined Arutyunyan for wearing a Russian military uniform and disseminating symbols linked to war crimes.

Quote from the KAPO: "David Arutyunyan dreamed of joining the Russian army. But when it came time for deportation, he hid behind a mask. For security reasons, the ISS, together with the PPA, expelled Russian citizen and servicemember Arutyunyan from Estonia and issued him a Schengen-wide entry ban."

Background:

• On 7 October, Ivan Dmitrijev, an Estonian citizen, was found guilty of espionage and aiding intelligence activities by an Estonian court.
• Investigators established that from March to May 2025, Dmitriev passed information to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) on instructions from Bobkov, an officer of the operational department of the border service.
• In early June, Estonia revoked a residence permit and deported a Russian citizen on national security grounds.

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