Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TALLINN743
2006-08-16 10:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tallinn
Cable title:
FINNISH CASE REOPENS UNFINISHED TIP DEBATE IN
how-toVZCZCXRO1619 RR RUEHAST DE RUEHTL #0743 2281024 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 161024Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY TALLINN TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8910 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS TALLINN 000743
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EN
SUBJECT: FINNISH CASE REOPENS UNFINISHED TIP DEBATE IN
ESTONIA.
REF: HELSINKI 00724
UNCLAS TALLINN 000743
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EN
SUBJECT: FINNISH CASE REOPENS UNFINISHED TIP DEBATE IN
ESTONIA.
REF: HELSINKI 00724
1. (U) In July, Finnish prosecutors brought to trial a
group of Estonians and Finns under TIP-specific
statutes. The five Estonian and two Finnish
traffickers were convicted of trafficking 15 Estonian
women to Finland for prostitution. The ringleaders
were given prison sentences and hefty fines; others
were either fined or given lesser prison sentences.
As Estonia does not have any TIP-specific laws,
Estonian NGOs and GOE officials have watched very
closely the first prosecution of an Estonian under TIP
statutes in Finland (reftel). Throughout the Finnish
case, Estonian law enforcement and prosecutors
cooperated closely with their Finnish counterparts,
according to Ministry of Justice (MOJ) TIP Advisor
Kristiina Aavik.
2. (U) Estonian authorities are currently conducting
their own investigation into the activities of the
same gang in Estonia, and have so far charged five
individuals with pimping. Those charged include the
two alleged ring leaders of the gang (who directed
their pimping operations from Amari prison where they
were serving time for another sentence). Media
reports claimed that some of the traffickers continued
their criminal activities via cell phones while in
prison in Estonia. (Now aware of the problem,
authorities are examining equipment to jam all cell
phone transmissions coming Estonian prisons).
3. (U) The case has received a great deal of attention
in the Estonian press, consequently fueling the call
from NGOs for the GOE to introduce TIP-specific
statutes similar to those found in other countries in
the region (i.e., Finland, Latvia, etc.). Presently,
Estonia prosecutes TIP under "enslavement" (which many
NGOs criticize as being too difficult to prove in
court with prosecutors relying on lesser violations,
like "pimping" to prosecute TIP cases). While the GOE
has not indicated plans to introduce TIP specific
legislation, the Parliament is planning to have an
open hearing this autumn to discuss the problem of TIP
in Estonia.
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM EN
SUBJECT: FINNISH CASE REOPENS UNFINISHED TIP DEBATE IN
ESTONIA.
REF: HELSINKI 00724
1. (U) In July, Finnish prosecutors brought to trial a
group of Estonians and Finns under TIP-specific
statutes. The five Estonian and two Finnish
traffickers were convicted of trafficking 15 Estonian
women to Finland for prostitution. The ringleaders
were given prison sentences and hefty fines; others
were either fined or given lesser prison sentences.
As Estonia does not have any TIP-specific laws,
Estonian NGOs and GOE officials have watched very
closely the first prosecution of an Estonian under TIP
statutes in Finland (reftel). Throughout the Finnish
case, Estonian law enforcement and prosecutors
cooperated closely with their Finnish counterparts,
according to Ministry of Justice (MOJ) TIP Advisor
Kristiina Aavik.
2. (U) Estonian authorities are currently conducting
their own investigation into the activities of the
same gang in Estonia, and have so far charged five
individuals with pimping. Those charged include the
two alleged ring leaders of the gang (who directed
their pimping operations from Amari prison where they
were serving time for another sentence). Media
reports claimed that some of the traffickers continued
their criminal activities via cell phones while in
prison in Estonia. (Now aware of the problem,
authorities are examining equipment to jam all cell
phone transmissions coming Estonian prisons).
3. (U) The case has received a great deal of attention
in the Estonian press, consequently fueling the call
from NGOs for the GOE to introduce TIP-specific
statutes similar to those found in other countries in
the region (i.e., Finland, Latvia, etc.). Presently,
Estonia prosecutes TIP under "enslavement" (which many
NGOs criticize as being too difficult to prove in
court with prosecutors relying on lesser violations,
like "pimping" to prosecute TIP cases). While the GOE
has not indicated plans to introduce TIP specific
legislation, the Parliament is planning to have an
open hearing this autumn to discuss the problem of TIP
in Estonia.