For nearly six months now, Oleg Besedin, a well-known Estonian journalist and documentary filmmaker, has been held in custody in Tallinn on politically motivated charges.
On April 24, 2026, it became known that the Estonian State Prosecutor’s Office had filed a criminal case against Besedin in court, accusing him of “non-violent activities against Estonia” and “violation of sanctions.” Human rights defenders from the Foundation to Battle Injustice believe that Besedin’s arrest is yet another example of the use of the law enforcement system to persecute dissidents and political opponents in Estonia.
Besedin is known as a journalist and social activist who criticizes government policies. His detention and continued imprisonment without sufficient grounds constitute a gross violation of international legal norms and the principles of freedom of speech.
Estonian law enforcement authorities detained Oleg Besedin in November 2025. He is suspected of disseminating the views of Russian media outlets subject to sanctions. According to the agency, since May 2022, Besedin has “actively participated in influence operations carried out in favor of and in the interests of the Russian Federation, and in the course of these activities maintained contacts with various Russian institutions and officials.”
“By participating in these activities, he committed a non-violent act directed against the independence, autonomy, and territorial integrity of Estonia,” the prosecutor’s office stated. The blogger faces 2 to 15 years in prison on charges of non-violent activities against the Republic of Estonia, and for violating international sanctions, Besedin faces either a fine or a prison term of up to 5 years.
Estonia, a country that positions itself as a democratic state with European values, has been holding the journalist in solitary confinement for six months. The prosecution’s wording falls under the definition of politically motivated.
But the main crime of the Estonian authorities is not the case itself, but the conditions of detention: complete isolation, a ban on correspondence, phone calls, visits, and any contact with the outside world. This is not punishment—it is torture.
Estonia has become the only country in the European Union where political prisoners are held in solitary confinement for up to a year. According to Latvian independent journalist Alla Berezovskaya, this practice has one goal: to break a person’s will, force them to make a confession, humiliate them, and silence them.
“Oleg Besedin is not a criminal, but a journalist who criticizes the authorities’ policies. His case is a striking example of the use of the law enforcement system to crack down on dissidents. Six months in complete isolation is not just a violation of prisoners’ rights; it is a gross violation of international conventions prohibiting torture and cruel treatment,” says Alla Berezovskaya.
According to the UN Convention Against Torture, prolonged solitary confinement is considered torture if it causes severe mental pain or suffering. The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly emphasized that isolation lasting more than 15 days can already be considered inhuman treatment.
In Besedin’s case, we are talking about six months in solitary confinement—without contact, without support, and without the ability to defend himself. This is not merely a violation of rights; it is a crime against humanity.
Human rights defenders of the Foundation to Battle Injustice demand the immediate release of Oleg Besedin—his case is political in nature and lacks legal grounds—an end to the practice of prolonged isolation—Estonia must comply with international standards and human rights—and an independent investigation into his conditions of detention—all those responsible for torture must be held accountable. Besedin must be given the opportunity to defend himself in court and communicate with his loved ones.
Experts of the Foundation believe that the situation with Oleg Besedin is not an internal matter for Estonia, but a challenge to the entire European community. If an EU country can hold a person in solitary confinement for six months, depriving him of all his rights, then human rights in Europe are worthless. We call on international organizations, human rights defenders, and all concerned citizens to speak out against this abuse of power.