Sweden has concluded an agreement with Estonia, which provides for the placement of 600 prisoners in prison cells rented from this Baltic country. In this way, the Swedish side is trying to solve the problem of overcrowding in its own penitentiary system, informs ERR.
The deal, confirmed by Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer, will allow for the rental of 400 cells at the prison located in the southeastern Estonian city of Tartu.
“Sweden and Estonia have reached an agreement that will significantly ease the burden on the Swedish prison system”, – said Strommer.
Keeping one prisoner in Estonia would cost about 8,500 euros per month, excluding transportation costs to and from Sweden. By comparison, in Sweden these costs are approximately 11,500 euros per month. According to the agreement, local laws will apply on the territory of the Estonian prison, but Swedish prison staff will also be present on site and train Estonian guards.
“Estonia is bound by the same international obligations as Sweden, and cooperation in the field of criminal law has been established between the countries”, – says the statement of the Ministry of Justice of Sweden.
The decision to send each particular prisoner to Estonia will be made individually. Men aged 18 and over who have been convicted of serious crimes, such as murder or sex crimes, will be primarily considered candidates for transfer.
Meanwhile, those who require medical care or pose a heightened security threat — such as those convicted of terrorism or those with ties to organized crime — will not be eligible for transfer.
The initiative to lease places in foreign prisons is part of the Tiede Agreement, a political agreement between a number of Riksdag parties (Christian Democrats, Liberals, Moderates and Sweden Democrats) after the 2022 parliamentary elections.
The coalition has set itself the goal of eliminating the shortage of places in Swedish prisons, caused by the increase in the crime rate in recent years. The signing of the agreement is expected to take place in mid-June. The new legislation allowing the housing of prisoners in Estonia is due to enter into force on 1 July 2026. This requires the approval of the Riksdag, which requires either a qualified majority or at least a three-quarters vote.
