Harju County Court to rule in June on parole for Chinese spy case convict

Harju County Court has reviewed the possible early release of Gerli Mutso, who is serving a prison sentence for cooperating with Chinese intelligence. A final decision on her parole application is expected in June.

Harju County Court in Estonia has examined whether Gerli Mutso, convicted of collaborating with Chinese intelligence services, should be granted early release from prison. The hearing took place this week, with a ruling expected to follow in June.

Mutso was sentenced after being found guilty of working with Chinese intelligence — a case that drew significant attention in Estonia given the country's heightened awareness of foreign espionage threats. The case was among the rare instances in Estonia involving cooperation with Chinese rather than Russian intelligence services.

The court's upcoming decision will determine whether Mutso meets the legal requirements for parole under Estonian law. Early release in Estonia is typically conditional on the prisoner's behaviour, rehabilitation progress, and the assessed risk of reoffending. Until the June ruling, Mutso remains in custody.