The author of leaflets calling for a referendum received political asylum in Estonia

Karelian activist Vyacheslav Drezner, who called for a referendum on the separation of a number of regions of Karelia from Russia, received political asylum in Estonia.

December 31, 2013 blogger Maxim Efimov in 2010 reported that Vyacheslav Drezner, who was found guilty under Part 1 of Art. 280 (public calls for extremist activity) of the Criminal Code and fined 100 thousand rubles, received political asylum in Estonia. Recall, Dresner distributed leaflets calling for a referendum on secession from Russia of a number of regions of Karelia, which belonged to Finland before World War II, and their possible accession to Finland.

Recall also that Drezner failed to obtain political asylum in Finland.

WITH from our point of view, the sentence handed down on Drezner is unlawful, since call for a referendum must qualify under Art. 280. We believe that extremism can considered only violent separatism.

We also note that, according to the President signed at the end of 2013 law in the Criminal Code was introduced a new art. 280.1 (public calls for action aimed at violation of the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation), providing for sanctions up to three years in prison, and in case of using the media and Internet - up to five years in prison. Sources

• A citizen of Petrozavodsk convicted for leaflets about joining Finland received political asylum in Estonia // Capital on Onego. 2014. January 9th.