Estonian Prime Minister called the exchange of Kochver "a birthday gift"

Estonia’s authorities welcomed the exchange of Eston Kokhver, who received a term for espionage in Russia: Prime Minister Tavi Ryvas called his return “the best birthday gift”, and President Hendrick Ilves recalled that the state promised to “do everything” for this. Kokhver was exchanged for ex-officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Alexei Dressen, who was convicted of espionage in Estonia.

“Who might have thought that the Birthday of the Minister of the Interior will be the best gift for his birthday,” Ryvas wrote on Twitter. He thanked the Kokhver family for endurance, as well as state departments that participated in his liberation.

He also thanked the Minister of Internal Affairs, General Director of the Security Police and everyone, "who helped the liberation of Eston Kochver," Interfax reports.

Estonian President Toomas Hendrick Ilves also expressed satisfaction: “Today we can take off yellow ribbons that testified to our hope and support that September 5, a year ago from the Estonian territory and a police officer Eston Kochver returned home ... Now Eston Kokhver is a strong, confident and loyal civil servant of Estonia - again at home, next to his wife with his wife with four children ".

He thanked the employees of many departments who worked to liberate Kokhver, who supported him and his family. “I express my gratitude to our allies for their international support and solidarity, which were powerful, visible and influenced,” Ilves said.

The president recalled that, meeting in August with the Kokhver family, he promised that "Estonia would do whatever we can and can make Eston Kokhver return home." "The Estonian state did it," the president said.