Tartu residents protest against incoming Swedish prisoners at Emajõgi riverbank

On Sunday, people gathered at the Emajõgi riverbank by Atlantis in Tartu to express opposition to the placement of Swedish detainees in Tartu Prison. Participants were concerned about both security risks and the fact that foreign prisoners would be given better conditions than local inmates.

On Sunday, 28 June 2026, a large number of Tartu residents gathered at the Emajõgi riverbank by Atlantis to protest against plans to transfer Swedish prisoners to serve their sentences in Tartu Prison.

Local residents are primarily concerned that Swedish prisoners will receive better conditions in Estonian prisons than local inmates. Many participants considered this unfair and unacceptable.

Beyond welfare considerations, protesters also raised security issues. According to several participants' assessments, bringing prisoners from a foreign country to Tartu Prison poses a threat to Estonian security, which is why they wanted to use the public gathering to persuade decision-makers to reconsider their positions.

Within the framework of an agreement with Sweden, Tartu Prison is ready to accept Swedish detainees, as Sweden lacks sufficient prison capacity. Such an agreement is rare in Europe, but not unheard of, similar contracts have previously been signed by, for example, Norway and the Netherlands.