Artpodgotovka leader Vyacheslav Maltsev said he received asylum in the European Union

The leader of Artpodgotovka, Vyacheslav Maltsev, said that he received political asylum in one of the European Union countries. The TV channel “Current Time” writes about this.

“I'm in the European Union. I had to serve time in prison, and much more. I am a political refugee - this is completely obvious to anyone. It is very easy to get a visa if you are a real political refugee. If you are really wanted for a political crime, there are no problems,” Maltsev told Present Time.

The publication writes that Maltsev was released from custody because he managed to confirm the political component of his persecution in Russia.

The politician also advised leaving the country through one of the visa-free countries that “does not have very good relations with Russia” - Georgia or Montenegro.

• Maltsev is accused of public calls for extremist activity (Part 1 of Article 280 of the Criminal Code) for speaking at a rally on the occasion of the anniversary of the events on Bolotnaya Square. On October 10, the Meshchansky District Court arrested him in absentia at the request of the FSB investigators.
• In July 2017, he left Russia due to a criminal case brought against him regarding an extremist community (Article 282.1 of the Criminal Code). Maltsev has been put on the international wanted list.
• The Artpodgotovka movement, which he heads, has been recognized as extremist in Russia since October 26, 2017.
• Maltsev called on his supporters on November 5, 2017 to go to city centers and stand there until President Vladimir Putin resigns. More than 400 people were detained that day. In total, at least nine criminal cases have been initiated in connection with the protest.
• On November 10, it became known that the FSB had opened a criminal case for organizing a terrorist community (Part 1 of Article 205.4) against the politician.