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Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service
The Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service (EFIS; Estonian: Välisluureamet, VLA) is the national civilian foreign intelligence agency of Republic of Estonia. The Foreign Intelligence Service coordinates with all Estonian intelligence functions, collects intelligence concerning foreign interests and activities, and transmits information to the President, Prime Minister, the General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, the Interior Minister, the Foreign Minister, and the Minister of Defence.
Since November 2022 the Director General of the Foreign Intelligence Service has been Kaupo Rosin.
The Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service was first formed in 1992 under the name Information Agency of the Government Office of the Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariigi Riigikantselei Teabeteenistus). In 2001 the service was reformed under the Security Authorities Act as the Estonian Information Board (Teabeamet). On July 1, 2017, it was renamed again as the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service.
In August 2014, data leaks from the customer support database of Gamma Group, the producer of one of the world's most powerful surveillance software systems, FinFisher, showed that the software was being used in Estonia, most likely by the Foreign Intelligence Service or other intelligence agencies.
In April 2015, the Foreign Intelligence Service issued Estonia's Ministers specially encrypted iPhones after revelations that calls between Former Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and the then European Union Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative Catherine Ashton were recorded and uploaded to YouTube.
On 15 February 2022, an annual report by the Service included criticism of Chinese vaccine diplomacy as "underhanded" and accused China of threateningly responding to Estonians and Estonian organizations critical of its policies. In response, the Chinese Embassy in Tallinn accused the Service of "spreading false information."
On 16 February 2022, Director General Marran stated that the extended presence of Russian soldiers in Belarus surrounding Ukraine would "reduce preparation time for an attack against the Baltics."
In May 2014, the Estonian Internal Security Service opened a criminal investigation into accusations of embezzlement and revealing state secrets by five members of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Bõstrov, Pavel Kotkin, Ines Piibeleht, Sven Randlane and Lauri Vihula. Few details concerning the case were revealed; however, it was revealed that all five members served in the same unit, led by Sergei Bõstrov. The funds in question, which were allocated for the purchase of information, were taken during the period of 2002–2014 and the state secrets revealed were deemed as having been "revealed to third parties who had no need for classified state information," however did not threaten Estonia's national security.
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Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service
The Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service (EFIS; Estonian: Välisluureamet, VLA) is the national civilian foreign intelligence agency of Republic of Estonia. The Foreign Intelligence Service coordinates with all Estonian intelligence functions, collects intelligence concerning foreign interests and activities, and transmits information to the President, Prime Minister, the General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces, the Interior Minister, the Foreign Minister, and the Minister of Defence.
Since November 2022 the Director General of the Foreign Intelligence Service has been Kaupo Rosin.
The Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service was first formed in 1992 under the name Information Agency of the Government Office of the Republic of Estonia (Eesti Vabariigi Riigikantselei Teabeteenistus). In 2001 the service was reformed under the Security Authorities Act as the Estonian Information Board (Teabeamet). On July 1, 2017, it was renamed again as the Estonian Foreign Intelligence Service.
In August 2014, data leaks from the customer support database of Gamma Group, the producer of one of the world's most powerful surveillance software systems, FinFisher, showed that the software was being used in Estonia, most likely by the Foreign Intelligence Service or other intelligence agencies.
In April 2015, the Foreign Intelligence Service issued Estonia's Ministers specially encrypted iPhones after revelations that calls between Former Foreign Minister Urmas Paet and the then European Union Foreign Affairs and Security Policy High Representative Catherine Ashton were recorded and uploaded to YouTube.
On 15 February 2022, an annual report by the Service included criticism of Chinese vaccine diplomacy as "underhanded" and accused China of threateningly responding to Estonians and Estonian organizations critical of its policies. In response, the Chinese Embassy in Tallinn accused the Service of "spreading false information."
On 16 February 2022, Director General Marran stated that the extended presence of Russian soldiers in Belarus surrounding Ukraine would "reduce preparation time for an attack against the Baltics."
In May 2014, the Estonian Internal Security Service opened a criminal investigation into accusations of embezzlement and revealing state secrets by five members of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergei Bõstrov, Pavel Kotkin, Ines Piibeleht, Sven Randlane and Lauri Vihula. Few details concerning the case were revealed; however, it was revealed that all five members served in the same unit, led by Sergei Bõstrov. The funds in question, which were allocated for the purchase of information, were taken during the period of 2002–2014 and the state secrets revealed were deemed as having been "revealed to third parties who had no need for classified state information," however did not threaten Estonia's national security.