This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7910814.stm

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Estonian spy sold Nato secrets Estonian spy sold Nato secrets
(5 days later)
A former Estonian defence ministry official who sold Nato secrets to Russia has been sent to jail for 12 and a half years after a secret trial. A former Estonian defence ministry official who sold Nato secrets to Russia has been sent to jail for 12 and a half years after a closed trial.
Herman Simm, a former head of security, pleaded guilty to treason on Wednesday.Herman Simm, a former head of security, pleaded guilty to treason on Wednesday.
The court where he was tried did not reveal which country he spied for, but investigators said Mr Simm passed nearly 3,000 documents to Russia.The court where he was tried did not reveal which country he spied for, but investigators said Mr Simm passed nearly 3,000 documents to Russia.
They said he received 1.3m kroons (£73,000; $106,000) for the data. The Kremlin denied any involvement.They said he received 1.3m kroons (£73,000; $106,000) for the data. The Kremlin denied any involvement.
Nato made no comment, but the case, which is Estonia's biggest spy scandal since the Cold War, is seen as an embarrassment for the former Soviet state. Estonia joined Nato in 2004, angering Russia.Nato made no comment, but the case, which is Estonia's biggest spy scandal since the Cold War, is seen as an embarrassment for the former Soviet state. Estonia joined Nato in 2004, angering Russia.
'Russian contacts''Russian contacts'
Investigators said Mr Simm, who used to be Estonia's police chief, had been working for the Russian intelligence service (known as SVR) since 1995, when he joined the Estonian defence ministry.Investigators said Mr Simm, who used to be Estonia's police chief, had been working for the Russian intelligence service (known as SVR) since 1995, when he joined the Estonian defence ministry.
He became head of security at the ministry in 2000, handling classified information regarding Nato's communications and surveillance systems.He became head of security at the ministry in 2000, handling classified information regarding Nato's communications and surveillance systems.
The investigators added Mr Simm met his SVR handlers, named as Valery Zemtsov and Sergei Yakovlev, three or four times a year in different European countries.The investigators added Mr Simm met his SVR handlers, named as Valery Zemtsov and Sergei Yakovlev, three or four times a year in different European countries.
Mr Simm, 61, was arrested last September.Mr Simm, 61, was arrested last September.
An international arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Yakovlev, who also uses a fake Portuguese identity.An international arrest warrant has been issued for Mr Yakovlev, who also uses a fake Portuguese identity.
Jaanus Rahumagi, the head of the Estonian parliament's security affairs committee, said: "I believe Simm was happy to be involved with such a big game. He liked to be undercover and secretive."Jaanus Rahumagi, the head of the Estonian parliament's security affairs committee, said: "I believe Simm was happy to be involved with such a big game. He liked to be undercover and secretive."
Mr Simm, who co-operated with the investigation, has been ordered to pay 20.2m kroons in damages to the Estonian defence ministry.Mr Simm, who co-operated with the investigation, has been ordered to pay 20.2m kroons in damages to the Estonian defence ministry.