Estonian intelligence agents ranked eighth in Europe by French publication

Estonian intelligence officers have earned a respectable eighth place in a European "spy ranking" compiled by the French publication L'Express. The ranking, which awarded Estonia 27 points, was revealed by security analyst and Postimees editor Meelis Oidsalu.

In comparison, Lithuanian intelligence agents secured 18th place with 8 points. Latvia received only one point among the countries that scored points, with some nations receiving none. Points were awarded based on judges selecting their top five choices, with the top pick receiving five points and the fifth receiving one.

Oidsalu noted that the article's authors described an internal hierarchy within the intelligence community. They reported that during conversations with about a hundred European intelligence workers, a clear pecking order emerged. Agents with "moles" inside the power corridors of Russia, China, or Iran are considered the most valuable. Following closely are services capable of organizing sabotage or even assassinations, though state-sponsored killings are surrounded by the greatest taboo.

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Selles «suures vahetuskaubanduses» peetakse kõige lugu neist, kellel on Venemaa, Hiina või Iraani võimukoridorides oma «mutt». Järgmisena tulevad teenistused, kes suudavad korraldada sabotaaži või isegi mõrvu, ehkki just riiklikult korraldatud tapmisi ümbritseb kõige suurem tabu.