Estonian woman convicted of spying for China seeks early release from prison

Gerli Mutso, a 47-year-old Estonian woman serving an eight-and-a-half-year sentence for working as a spy for Chinese military intelligence, has applied for early release. She argues she has used her time productively in prison, but both the prosecution and the prison administration oppose her release.

Gerli Mutso, 47, who is serving an eight-and-a-half-year prison sentence in Estonia for working on behalf of Chinese military intelligence, has filed an application for early release. Mutso has argued that she has made meaningful use of her time behind bars and is keen to rebuild her life on the outside.

In her appeal for early release, Mutso emphasised that she has been actively engaged in work while incarcerated and has kept herself occupied in ways she considers constructive. She has expressed a desire to retrain professionally, stating she needs to acquire a new occupation in order to become more competitive in the labour market once released.

Despite her arguments, both the Estonian prosecutor's office and the prison administration have indicated they do not support her early release. Their opposition means that Mutso's chances of being freed ahead of schedule remain limited, and she is likely to continue serving her sentence.

Mutso's case attracted significant attention in Estonia when it came to light that she had been working for Chinese military intelligence. The conviction underscored growing concerns across the Baltic region about foreign intelligence services — not only from Russia but also from China — attempting to recruit local individuals for espionage activities.