Second group of Swedish prisoners arrives at Tartu Prison

TALLINN - A second group of 11 Swedish prisoners arrived at Tartu Prison on Tuesday.

This brings the total number of Swedish inmates at Tartu Prison to 15.

The inmates arrived on a charter flight at Tartu Airport and were then transported to the prison under the escort of the prison service's armed unit. Both the transport and the reception proceeded safely and as planned.

Upon arriving at the prison, they will go through the necessary intake procedures and be placed in their designated living quarters. During the initial days, they will be familiarized with the prison's daily schedule, rules, and regulations, and will receive support to help them adapt to the new environment.

According to Merle Ulst, the director of Tartu Prison, what was once preparation has now become daily routine following the arrival of the first inmates.

"Receiving the first group gave us the opportunity to implement our long-prepared procedures in a real-world setting and fine-tune the details. The first few days have confirmed that we were well-prepared-work in the living unit is underway, communication with the inmates is smooth, and we have found solutions to any issues that have arisen. With each new group, this work will become a more routine part of daily life at Tartu Prison," Ulst said.

The four inmates who arrived on August 18 have spent the first week familiarizing themselves with the daily schedule, rules, and procedures of Tartu Prison and have been adapting to the new environment. The language barrier has not been an issue, and the prisoners have been cooperative. There have been no incidents requiring intervention from the prison staff.

The arrival of Swedish prisoners at Tartu Prison will continue in phases. Up to 200 inmates are expected to arrive by the end of the year. The exact arrival times for subsequent groups will not be disclosed in advance due to security and privacy concerns.

All Swedish prisoners sent to Estonia undergo a thorough background check, and Estonia gives separate consent for each individual's transfer. If there is insufficient information about a person or if doubts arise about their suitability, Estonia has the right to refuse them. Under the prison rental agreement, Tartu Prison can hold up to 600 Swedish inmates at any one time.

As of August 25, there are a total of 1,727 inmates in Estonian prisons, with another 2,808 people on probation.