# Sweden-Estonia prison lease agreement > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sweden-estonia-prison-lease-agreement > Updated: 2026-08-20T17:02:17.000Z. Sources: 15. Developments: 4. Sweden and Estonia have entered into a memorandum of understanding to address Swedish prison overcrowding by transferring up to 600 inmates to the Tartu Prison in Estonia. Under the agreement, Sweden will pay approximately €30.6 million annually for the first 300 places. The arrangement has faced significant domestic opposition in both nations. In Sweden, families have expressed concerns regarding the distance between inmates and their children, while legal representatives for prisoners have specifically raised concerns regarding the adequacy of Estonian healthcare standards, psychiatric assistance, and communication facilities for maintaining family contact. In Estonia, the plan has triggered political backlash and public concern. A survey by the University of Tartu indicated that 54 percent of respondents oppose the presence of Swedish inmates in Tartu, while 48 percent believe the agreement should be terminated by the next government. Estonian political opposition, including members of the Christian Democratic Ismaa party and nationalist groups like Ekre, have threatened to revoke the deal if they secure power in upcoming elections. In August 2026, the first group of Swedish prisoners arrived at Tartu Prison. The four individuals were transported from Ämari airbase under armed escort. Tartu Prison Director Merle Ulst noted that the facility has spent over a year preparing through staff training and cooperation with Swedish authorities. The transfer process includes rigorous background checks, and Estonia maintains the right to individual consent for each prisoner. In the initial selection, Estonia declined to accept more than half of the candidates proposed by Sweden. Prison Service Director Rait Kuuse emphasized that security remains the priority, stating that consent is only granted when sufficient information is available and no doubts regarding suitability arise. Under the five-year agreement, Sweden is expected to transfer 100 prisoners by the end of September and 200 by the end of the year. ## Claims - Estonian authorities have blocked over half of the prisoners Sweden initially attempted to transfer due to concerns regarding organized crime links or radicalization risks. (disputed by 2 sources) - Prisoners transferred to Estonia will not include those convicted of terrorism or those with links to criminal networks. (disputed) - Up to 600 Swedish prisoners are scheduled to be moved to Estonia to relieve pressure on the Swedish Prison and Probation Service. (single source) - The first group of prisoners arrived in Estonia in August, with 70 more expected in September. (single source) - The three largest opposition parties in Estonia intend to terminate the agreement with Sweden if they win the upcoming government elections. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-20: Sweden begins transferring prisoners to Estonia under new agreement Sweden has begun transferring prisoners to Estonia under a new agreement to expand prison capacity, though the first shipment included only four inmates following several rejections by Estonian authorities. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sweden-begins-transferring-prisoners-to-estonia-under-new-agreement ### 2026-08-18: Swedish prisoners arrive in Estonia under new transfer agreement The first Swedish prisoners have arrived at Tartu Prison in Estonia under a bilateral agreement to combat overcrowding. Estonia has rejected many candidates due to security and radicalization concerns. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/swedish-prisoners-arrive-at-tartu-prison-in-estonia ### 2026-08-15: Tartu faces backlash over plan to house Swedish prisoners The transfer of up to 600 Swedish prisoners to Tartu, Estonia, has triggered public opposition and political threats to revoke the agreement by Estonian opposition parties. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tartu-faces-backlash-over-plan-to-house-swedish-prisoners ### 2026-08-05: Sweden and Estonia sign historic prison‑lease deal for up to 600 inmates Sweden and Estonia have signed a deal to move up to 600 Swedish prisoners to Tartu Prison, with Sweden paying €30.6 million annually; the plan aims to ease Swedish overcrowding but faces public and legal push‑b 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sweden-signs-deal-to-move-up-to-600-prisoners-to-estonias-tartu-prison --- Cite as: Sweden-Estonia prison lease agreement. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sweden-estonia-prison-lease-agreement