Herman Simm

Herman Simm (born May 29 1947 in Suure-Jaani) is a former chief the Estonian Defence Ministry's security department. On September 21 2008, Simm was arrested with his wife Heete Simm on suspiction of illegal collecting and communicating classified information for Russia. In spite of several earlier claims by the government of Russian espionage operations in the country, [ [http://www.kommersant.com/p1030166/espionage_Estonia/ Estonia Catches Its First Spy] , Kommersant, September 23, 2008.] the Simm case is the first since the restoration of Estonia's independence in 1991 in which an actual agent has been identified and declared suspect in treason. [ [http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/22/europe/EU-Estonia-Spy-Suspects.php Estonia: Ex-security official accused of spying] , The International Herald Tribune, September 22, 2008.] The criminal case is processed by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and by the Security Police Board who co-operate with the Information Board and with the Ministry of Defence. According to the Penal Code, treason is punished with an imprisonment of three to fifteen years. [ [https://www.riigiteataja.ee/ert/act.jsp?id=12999083] , Law of Penalty of the Repblic of Estonia, §232.]

Professional career and spying

Herman Simm had previously held various positions at the Interior Ministry and the Police Board, including as director general of the board when he started work for the Defence Ministry in 1995 as head of the information analysis office of the defence policy department. In 2001, He was appointed head of the newly formed state secret protection department. As head of the Defence Ministry Security Department, Simm was tasked with coordinating the protection of state secrets. The department is also responsible for issuing access to classified information and handling data from international organizations, including NATO, the European Union and Estonia’s other defence partners. He also took part in the devising of EU and NATO information protection systems. [ [http://www.baltictimes.com/news/articles/21387/ Former official arrested for treason] , The Baltic Times, September 22, 2008.]

It is believed that Herman Simm caused damage not only the security of Estonia. In 2001-2006, Simm regularly traveled abroad to negotiate agreements on the protection of classified information with member countries of NATO and the European Union. Herman Simm also participated in the development of intelligence security with NATO and the EU, where he invited other states to check the security systems. In June 2003, he was issued a diplomatic passport, providing carriers transporting classified information. In November 2006, Herman Simm resigned from the post of head of the state secret protection department, but continued to work as adviser of the Minister of Defence, retaining access to classified information. [ [http://www.kommersant.ru/doc.aspx?DocsID=1030166 Эстония вычислила первого шпиона] , Kommersant, September 23, 2008. (Russian)]

References