Estonia and Sweden agree on operating conditions for rental prison

TALLINN – Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta and Director-General of the Swedish Prison and Probation Service Rikard Jermsten signed a memorandum of understanding establishing the practical conditions for housing Swedish inmates at Tartu Prison.

The agreement covers aspects such as prison attire, cell conditions, access to information channels, electricity usage, and the use of tobacco-free nicotine products.

According to Minister of Justice and Digital Affairs Liisa Pakosta, the cooperation between Estonia and Sweden is more than just renting prison space; it is a practical collaboration between two NATO allies. "Sweden has a shortage of prison capacity, while Estonia has a modern prison that it is not sensible to keep empty. For Estonia, this means new, well-paying jobs in the internal security sector, more trained personnel, and a stronger prison service," Pakosta said.

"The agreement was concluded responsibly, with known risks mitigated. The contract also includes a provision to terminate the cooperation if any risks materialize. Swedish inmates will be brought to Estonia solely to serve their sentences and will not be released here. The number of visitors is highly restricted, and all will undergo background checks," Pakosta stated.

According to Rait Kuuse, director of the Estonian Prison Service, the agreement details the specifics needed for smooth cooperation. "The international treaty provides the general framework for our cooperation, while the memorandum helps us agree on the details of organizing daily life. This is a globally unique collaboration where Swedish inmates are subject to Estonian law and the prison is staffed by Estonian officials. It is therefore crucial that the cooperation is clear, transparent, and unequivocally understood by all parties," Kuuse said.

All costs associated with the Swedish inmates will be covered by Sweden, and their placement will be preceded by close bilateral cooperation and assessment to mitigate risks as effectively as possible. The Swedish inmates will serve their sentences within the secure perimeter of Tartu Prison and will not be granted town leave. They will be transferred back to Sweden before their release. According to the agreement, the facility will operate under Tartu Prison's internal rules, but the Swedish inmates will wear Swedish prison uniforms and be guaranteed access to Swedish media channels. They will also be provided with a television in their cell and access to electricity during the night. Tartu Prison will remain a tobacco-free facility: cigarettes and other tobacco products are prohibited, but Swedish inmates will be able to purchase tobacco-free nicotine pouches and patches from the prison's e-shop.

The intake of foreign inmates will be gradual. The first Swedish inmates are expected to arrive at Tartu Prison in mid-August. By the end of the year, up to 200 foreign inmates could be housed there. Over the course of the following year, the number will gradually increase to the contractually agreed-upon total of 600.

The prison rental agreement allows Estonia to make effective use of Tartu Prison at a time when its domestic inmate population has decreased. The project keeps critical internal security infrastructure operational, creates over 250 jobs in Southern Estonia, and helps maintain the skills and experience of prison staff, which would be difficult to rebuild later. All costs related to the Swedish inmates will be covered by the Swedish state, meaning their incarceration will not be a burden on Estonian taxpayers.