Baltic state Estonia considers housing foreign prisoners

The government of Estonia has stated that the Tartu prison is nearly vacant.

Estonia's Justice Minister Liisa Pakosta shared with the BBC that her country is thinking about the possibility of accommodating international inmates in their prisons.

She mentioned that she talked about prisons with UK Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood at an artificial intelligence summit in Vilnius last Thursday.

However, she mentioned that there were no formal agreements or commitments made with the Labour government.

The United Kingdom is currently facing a problem of too many people in its prisons, with the number of inmates in England and Wales reaching an all-time high.

Due to limited capacity in prisons, the government is planning to release around 3,000 inmates on a temporary basis next week.

This news comes after a recent article in the Telegraph announced that there are discussions about allowing criminals to complete their sentences in prisons in Estonia.

In an interview with the BBC, Ms. Pakosta emphasized that no decision had been made based on politics regarding the fate of Tartu prison. The facility remained largely unoccupied due to the country's low crime rate.

She mentioned that the UK, during the last Conservative government, was one of many European countries interested in relocating some prisoners to Estonia.

Ms Pakosta mentioned that representatives from Britain had come to Tartu prison to conduct an inspection during the previous administration in the UK.

According to the BBC, former Conservative and current Labour ministers both independently concluded that the scheme would be costly.

Previously, a representative for Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that the approach towards Estonia was established by the previous administration.

The government is not currently discussing or announcing any plans regarding Estonian prison spaces.

The Justice Minister, Liisa Pakosta, stated that there was no formal agreement for prison cooperation with the United Kingdom.

The minister described her meeting with Ms Mahmood as "productive", as they met in the Lithuanian capital to officially sign the first global agreement on artificial intelligence.

"We were talking about the overall prison policies in both countries and brainstorming ways to improve safety in our neighborhoods," Ms. Pakosta explained.

She said: "I talked about our work in Estonia and also learned about the current situation in the UK."

I want to stress that we have not discussed any agreements or anything similar, because as I mentioned, there is no political decision in Estonia yet.

In July, the ruling party of Estonia selected Kristen Michal to take over as the new prime minister of the Baltic state, succeeding former leader Kaja Kallas. Both politicians are members of the Reform Party, which secured a decisive win in the country's general election in 2023.

Ms. Pakosta mentioned that the monthly cost of housing an Estonian prisoner is approximately €3,000, which is lower than the average cost in the European Union.

The Prison Reform Trust reports that the average yearly expense for one prison spot in England and Wales is £46,696.

The government of Estonia is predicting that they could make up to €30 million a year by leasing out any extra space in their prisons. This is part of their efforts to improve their financial situation.

When questioned about the potential impact of hosting foreign prisoners on Estonia's global standing, Ms. Pakosta acknowledged that it may not portray the country in the best light.

"But I can guarantee that visiting Estonia as a tourist, a country with a very low crime rate, is a great choice."

It is very safe in Estonia, with many available prison vacancies. Currently, half of the prison spaces in the country remain unoccupied, making it a welcoming place for everyone.