Estonia and Sweden are close to a deal to house up to 600 Swedish inmates in a prison in Tartu. The Swedish prison capacity is insufficient, and the one in Estonia is open to include the Swedish convicts.
The Tartu prison has space for 933 inmates, according to its data, but currently has only 333 spaces occupied. “According to the agreement, which is beneficial for Estonia, the number of staff at Tartu Prison will be significantly increased to resolve the issue of the currently underutilized Tartu prison facility by housing low-risk Swedish inmates under fully closed conditions. The agreement will enhance security in Southern Estonia, ensure professional employment for Estonian prison staff, and support their further skills development,” a statement by the Estonian government reads, published on 4 June.
Once the Swedish convicts, including rapists and thieves, have completed their sentence in the Tartu prison, they will be flown back to Sweden before being released, officials said. | © 2025 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter.com. Photo of the Tartu prison in 2007 by Hendrix Eesti (CC))