European Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate Estonian defense contracts with Datasel
Gamed · Friday, 11 September 2026
Why it matters
The investigation adds EU-level scrutiny to Estonia’s defense-procurement failures, where earlier reporting documented missing supplier-selection records and problems involving roughly €70 million in ammunition contracts. It may establish whether weaknesses identified by auditors reflected administrative failures or criminal conduct, while showing that oversight is now split between national prosecutors and EPPO.
What happened
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office will investigate transactions between Estonia’s Centre for Defence Investments (RKIK) and Datasel after Estonia’s Prosecutor General’s Office found grounds to suspect a possible criminal offence. The case was assigned to EPPO because the suspected violations involve EU funds, while Estonian prosecutors will continue separate criminal proceedings opened in 2025 over issues described in a National Audit Office report. Prosecutor General Astrid Asi said the audit findings and media reporting provided sufficient grounds for the investigation; no criminal finding has been reported.
Previously
9 Sep 2026 — Estonia cannot document supplier selection for roughly €70 million in ammunition contracts.(estonia.news-pravda.com)
8 Sep 2026 — Estonia’s auditors cannot verify accounting for €1.2 billion in defense reserves.(estonia.news-pravda.com)
6 Sep 2026 — Estonia terminated 7 of 27 Ukraine arms contracts after delivery and quality failures(telegra.ph)
3 Sep 2026 — Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur offered his resignation over the failed ammunition procurement.(EU Perspectives)
Aug 2024–Dec 2024 — Estonia’s Centre for Defence Investments signed four contracts worth roughly €70m with Datasel S.r.l. for 155mm artillery shells intended for delivery to Ukraine within six to eight months.(EU Perspectives)
Players & places
- Estonia
- European Public Prosecutor’s Office
- Estonian Centre for Defence Investments
- Datasel
- Estonia’s Prosecutor General’s Office
- Estonia’s National Audit Office