Estonia convicts Russian Spy

[JALU3]

Originally Posted by News Article

Estonia, NATO Weigh Damage Done By Russian Mole

March 01, 2009
By Ahto Lobjakas

BRUSSELS -- This week's conviction in Estonia of former senior defense official Herman Simm as a Russian spy ends what officials have described as the biggest espionage scandal in NATO's history.

The question weighing most heavily on the minds of intelligence professionals in Estonia, at NATO, and allied capitals is the extent of the real damage done by Simm. The costs will not only be counted in systems compromised or plans leaked, but also in terms of loss of reputation, credibility, and prestige.

Simm's career as a Russian spy spanned a staggering 12 years. After Estonia joined NATO in 2004, Simm was until 2006 a "gold-card operative," to quote one Estonian security official. As head of Estonia's National Security Authority, he had full access to many NATO secrets and an intimate knowledge of its procedures.