Former Rossiya Segodnya journalist accused of treason in Estonia

The Estonian Prosecutor General’s Office has charged journalist Svetlana Burtseva with treason and violating international sanctions. According to the agency, she collaborated for several years with the Sputnik and Baltnews news agencies, which are part of the Rossiya Segodnya media holding. This reports ERR edition.

The prosecutor’s office believes that Burtseva, being an Estonian citizen and publishing texts for the Internet portals “Sputnik Estonia” and Baltnews, acted “in the interests of Russian propaganda and the Kremlin”, deliberately violating the sanctions imposed on the holding company “Russia Today” by the European Union.

“Her texts were published in online news serving the interests of Russian propaganda. Even after the sanctions against Russia imposed by the Council of Europe, Burtseva continued to work for the benefit of the owner and real beneficiary of MIA Rossiya Segodnya, Dmitry Kiselev,” the prosecutor said.

It is noted that Burtseva wrote for the Baltnews portal in 2020–2023 under the pseudonym Alan Torm.

The investigation also revealed that Burtseva graduated from Sevastopol State University with a master’s degree in information and hybrid conflicts in 2021. According to Estonian authorities, the program was supervised by a former FSB counterintelligence officer, with whom Burtseva published the book “Hybrid War for Peace.” Its content is said to “belittle Estonia” and be aimed at “dividing Estonian society.”

Under the article on treason, the journalist could face up to 20 years in prison.