The Estonian parliament, the Riigikogu, has approved amendments allowing prisoners from other countries to be housed in Estonian prisons, ERR reported. At the same time, the parliament ratified a prison leasing agreement with Sweden. Earlier, the Swedish parliament, the Riksdag, ratified the agreement, ERR reported. Under the deal, Sweden can send up to 600 adult male inmates serving longer sentences, mostly for violent or drug-related crimes, to Estonia’s Tartu Prison, which is currently only using just over 30% of its capacity, ERR reported. The prison’s current population will be transferred to Tallinn Prison in Rae and Viru Prison in Jõhvi. Sweden will pay Estonia EUR 30.6mn annually for housing up to 300 inmates, plus EUR 8,500 per month for each additional prisoner, according to ERR. The agreement will be in force for five years, with an option for a three-year extension.
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