Andri Rohtla
SWORN AdvocateE-mail: Andri.Rohtla@levinlaw.ee
Phone: : (+372) 686 0000
vCard
Andri Rohtla is a sworn advocate focusing on criminal and misdemeanour proceedings. Andri has broad experience in criminal proceedings, having represented clients in matters across a wide range of fields — from environmental and tax law to public procurement and the civil service — as defence counsel, as counsel for victims and as counsel for third parties.
Together with Paul Keres, Andri has achieved favourable outcomes for clients in several complex and high-profile cases. Parvel Pruunsild’s criminal case ended in an acquittal, and in the Port of Tallinn criminal case their client Ain Kaljurand was not convicted on any count. Andri is also defence counsel for Kaspar Kokk in the criminal case concerning the financing of the Isamaa party. He has achieved favourable outcomes in several confidential disputes.
International extradition proceedings hold a special place in Andri’s practice. He represented Ivan Turõgin in the extradition arrest proceedings and in the proceedings on the legal admissibility of his extradition to the United States, with responsibility for the criminal law and procedural law issues in the case. In that case, the Supreme Court in 2023 reversed a position it had held for nearly ten years and found that extradition arrest may be replaced by electronic monitoring or bail. Andri also represents Renek Tiku in proceedings in which the United States is seeking his extradition in connection with charges relating to one of the largest international healthcare frauds. In that case, he focuses on the conditions and consequences of extradition, including conditions of detention and the severity of the sentence the client faces. In extradition matters, Andri works closely with US defence counsel.
Andri is particularly interested in whether the state acts lawfully and fulfils its obligations. This theme runs through his most significant cases. In Parvel Pruunsild’s disputes against Telia and the Republic of Estonia, the central issue is the lawfulness of the communications data collected by the Internal Security Service and its use as evidence. In extradition matters, the central issue is the proportionality of deprivation of liberty. He has also represented clients before the European Court of Human Rights.
Andri regularly takes part in professional discussion of procedural law, including panel discussions at the Procedural Law Conference and the University of Tartu School of Law Criminal Law Seminar Sessions, alongside judges, prosecutors and sworn advocates. On behalf of the Estonian Bar Association, he has taken part in discussions on the preparation of the draft act amending the Electronic Communications Act concerning the retention and transmission of communications data. His opinion pieces on the limits of prosecutorial powers, surveillance and the rights of the defence have been published by ERR and Postimees.
Andri obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law from the University of Tartu, where for two years he was a seminar instructor for the course “Introduction to Legal Analysis and Argumentation”. He has been a member of the Estonian Bar Association since 2020 and an attorney-at-law since 2024.
Notable Experience
• Defence counsel for Ivan Turõgin in extradition arrest and extradition admissibility proceedings
o Defence counsel in proceedings in which the Supreme Court in 2023 reversed its previous case law and found that extradition arrest may be replaced by a less restrictive preventive measure, such as electronic monitoring or bail.
• Defence counsel for Renek Tikk in extradition arrest and extradition admissibility proceedings
o Defence counsel in proceedings in which the United States is seeking the client’s extradition in connection with charges relating to one of the largest international healthcare frauds (Medicare fraud of approximately USD 1.3 billion).
• Representation of Parvel Pruunsild in the criminal case concerning the former exhibition building of the Estonian National Museum
o Defence counsel, together with Paul Keres, in Parvel Pruunsild’s criminal case concerning aiding a violation of procedural restrictions in connection with the former exhibition building of the Estonian National Museum at Kuperjanovi 9. The court acquitted the client, and the judgment entered into force as the prosecution did not appeal.
• Representation of Ain Kaljurand in the so-called Port of Tallinn criminal case
o Defence counsel, together with Paul Keres, in the criminal case of Ain Kaljurand, a former management board member of AS Tallinna Sadam, who was charged with accepting bribes and money laundering in connection with the port’s procurements and contracts. The client was not convicted on any count.
• Defence counsel for Kaspar Kokk in the Isamaa party financing criminal case
o Defence counsel in a criminal case that began in November 2025, when the prosecution announced suspicions concerning the financing of the Isamaa party and Parvel Pruunsild’s support for the party; the proceedings are ongoing.
• Representation of Parvel Pruunsild in claims for damages caused by unlawful collection of communications data against both the Republic of Estonia and Telia
o Representation of clients in disputes centred on the lawfulness of communications data collected by the Internal Security Service and the resulting damage; the proceedings are ongoing.
• Lea Danilson-Järg, application to the European Court of Human Rights
o Representation of the client before the European Court of Human Rights concerning the unlawful disclosure of personal data of a person not party to criminal proceedings.
• Representation of Mihhail Korb in the Porto Franco criminal case
o Defence counsel, together with Paul Keres, in a case in which the former Secretary General of the Centre Party was charged with trading in influence in connection with the Porto Franco development.
• Representation of Mailis Reps in her criminal case
o Defence counsel, together with Paul Keres, in the criminal case of the former Minister of Education and Research, in which the charges concerned the use of ministry funds for personal expenses.
Publications
• It Is Time to Discuss Limiting the Prosecution’s Right of Appeal, ERR, January 2026. err.ee
• It Is Not a Security Threat When the Riigikogu Does Its Job, ERR, April 2026. err.ee
• New Draft Act Leaves a Back Door Open to Blanket Collection of Communications Data, ERR, 13.01.2026. err.ee
• The Wiretapping of Carri Ginter Is Only the Tip of the Surveillance Iceberg, Postimees, March 2026. postimees.ee
• The Complexity of Communications Data Collection Misleads Even Experts, Postimees, October 2024. postimees.ee
Professional and Academic Activities
• Procedural Law Conference 2023
o Panellist in a discussion on “20 Years of the Code of Criminal Procedure: Will What Brought Us Here Take Us Further?” with Supreme Court Justice Heili Sepp, prosecutor Kristel Siitam-Nyiri and attorney-at-law Norman Aas.
• University of Tartu School of Law – Criminal Law Seminar Sessions
o Invited panellist in a public discussion with State Prosecutor Eneli Laurits and judge Sten Lind.
• Representing the Estonian Bar Association in discussions on amending the Electronic Communications Act (retention and transmission of communications data)
o Representing the Estonian Bar Association in submitting its opinion on the draft act on the retention and transmission of communications data.
• Seminar Instructor, Introduction to Legal Analysis and Argumentation, University of Tartu
o Seminar instructor for the course “Introduction to Legal Analysis and Argumentation”, 2023–2024.