In a surprise move that may have been linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin's imminent appearance at the United Nations, the Estonian Foreign Ministry announced Saturday morning that Kohver was back home after Russia's FSB security service broke the news, saying Kohver had been exchanged for Russian spy Aleksei Dressen.
Today Eston Kohver arrived safely back to Estonia. Welcome home, Eston! #FreeEstonKohver #FreeKohver pic.twitter.com/julSJowL5d
— Siseministeerium (@sisemin) September 26, 2015
Latvian Prime Minister Laimdota Straujuma and Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics were among the first to offer their congratulations, Straujuma responding to a tweet by her counterpart, Tavi Roivas.
@TaaviRoivas Congratulations from Latvia!
— Laimdota Straujuma (@Straujuma) September 26, 2015
Rinkevics used the opportunity to remind the world that Kohver's abduction should never have happened:
It's great to see Eston #Kohver free, congratulations to him & Estonia, however, his illegal abduction by Russia should never have happened
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) September 26, 2015
You can read Taavi Roivas' official statement on Kohver's release here.
