I am lucky to have met lots of nice people

The interview with Maxim Efimov, a writer, blogger, political refugee, civil journalist.

- Dear Maxim, please tell us about yourself in short. - I graduated from the Russian philology faculty, my major was Russian language and literature. While I was a student, I was engaged in human rights activities. I founded the Karelian branch of Youth Human Rights Group and was head of the regional branch of "Amnesty International" in Karelia. I also published a human rights and anti-fascist newspaper Zero Hour, magazines, and brochures. I used to organize a number of educational projects for pupils and students of Petrozavodsk. I also participated in the projects of the Moscow Helsinki Group, drafting reports on human rights violations in the Republic of Karelia. - How does it feel to be a political refugee in the West? - Being a political refugee is better than a political prisoner or a patient in a mental hospital in Russia. I am lucky. While in Russia, I faced the illegal persecution, and in the West, many people have expressed solidarity with me. Wonderful, very smart and famous people help me! I could call them as spiritual guides and the salt of the earth. - How have you discovered Ukraine for yourself? - For the first time, I came there when I was a child. I visited Odessa. Apparently, my sense of humor was shaped there. When I was a student, I went to the Crimea - Saki. I traveled a bit in the Crimea. I had a lot of fun: the Sun, the sea, easy-going students and "real" Massandra wine for 4 hryvnias. Then I was a participant of the international project "The philosophy of human rights", that took place in the Western Ukraine. Most intelligent people of America and Poland taught us, Russian and Ukrainians, the philosophy of human rights. Young Ukrainian women, whom I met abroad, have made me delighted with their level of civil responsibility, thoughts, responsiveness, empathy and interpersonal skills. - What were your first impressions about Ukrainians and Ukraine? - I am lucky to have met lots of nice people. There are only decent people, mainly young scientists, among my Ukrainian friends. I have visited Kiev, Odessa, Lviv, Dnipropetrovsk, the Crimea and several town. Everywhere I found something interesting and entertaining. - What do you think about the political situation in Ukraine? - I'm so sorry for Ukraine and Ukrainians. I think that there are just few decent people, and it’s not enough for building a prosperous country. Just like in Russia. - Please comment on the annexation of the Crimea. - This is an international crime committed by the mafia and the criminal state called Russia. - What would you advise the Ukrainians? - Putin’s evil deeds and crimes against humanity should be the subject of the International Criminal Court. Regarding my friends, please stay strong. - How do you see Ukraine in the nearest future? - I see it as a prosperous, democratic European state. Interviewed by Inna Romani https://www.facebook.com/457438034448068/photos/a.463453443846527.1073741828.457438034448068/463453393846532/?type=3&theater

The refugee crisis means the crisis of democracy, solidarity and human rights

Maxim Efimov, the political refugee and the dissident opinion about refugee crisis in Europe. It means a crisis of solidarity, crisis of democratic values, crisis of humanity. 21.02.2016. Estonia. https://youtu.be/mbclxgqwwpw

It`s a pity that i am not still a European Union citizen

The interview with Maxim Efimov, political refugee, writer, blogger, civil journalist, human rights activist. - What are the reasons to come to Estonia? - The only reason is my criminal prosecution, a threat of my freedom and life in Russia from the criminal Russian state. I am here from 2012. - How have you been persecuted in Russia? - I am a civil journalist, videoblogger, writer and human rights activist. The authorities did not like my activity and one day they decided to stop me. The reason was my critical article "Karelia is tired from the priests" which i wrote, critisizing Russian Orthodox church in Karelia. FSB decided that this article is very dangerous for social secutity and that it insults a social group Orthodox beliviers. They began spying and wiretapping me for two months. And then the Investigating Committee initiated a criminal proceeding, according to the part 1 article 282 of the Criminal law. The empoyees of three security agencies searched my appartment in the night and took my computer. It was huge stress for me. After two months the investigator proposed me to pass the ambulatory psychiatric examination. And i did it. Psychiatrists recognized that i am OK. But it was not enough for FSB and they exerted pressure on Karelian expert group of psychiatrists to put me into the psychiatric clinic for stationary examination for an indefinite term. It could be some kind of freedom restraint for nothing. It reminded many people the Soviet era punitive psychiatry. I would like to share with you the unique fact that i was only person in Russia who had opinions of 16 psychiatrists that i am mentally healthy. But it did not help. And the judge decided to send me into the clinic with the prison regime. Thanks to federal mass-media and international human rights organisations they wrote about it and the intelligence service refused from their plans to take me away to the clinic accompanied FSB employees at this moment, immediately. I had 10 days of freedom to appeal the decision. So, in 9 days i fleed from Russia to West and when i knew that my name is in a Federal wanted list and i decided to ask for political assylum in Estonia because i had Estonian visa. - What are your activity in Estonia? - I am writing my books. I wrote 7 books and 3 of then have already been published, one is in the process of printing. - Your possibility to interact with thouse left in Russia for changes. - My organisation Youth Human Rights Group of Karelia has been eliminated by the court on the claim of the Karelian Ministry of Justice. Now i am just a member of the international commitee of protection of Boris Stomakhin, who is the Russian journalist and dissident. Recently a member of our Commitee from Saint-Petersburg has been attacked by unknown guy. His nose was broken. He is still threatened. I think that opposition political activity is impossible in Russia and activists should flee Russia as soon as possible. It is impossible to resist the modern regime in peaceful manner but only with guns like during Nazi regime in Europe. I would like that the fate and help to political prisoners and political activists in Russia would become a subject and priority of foreign policy in Estonia. - How do you live in Estonia? - It is a new experience and i open to it and sometimes like it, sometimes i feel depressed. Life in Estonia is a new challenge for me and i must deal with it any way. Never give up! - How have you been accepted? - I don`t feel needed here as well as in Russia. There are many intelligent people are not in demand in the post-Soviet space. But i have a great mission in this life and i try not to get lost here on the Planet. It`s a pity that i am not a European Union citizen, because it would give me more possibilities to realise myself and to be a part of European Union family. The temporary residence permit restricts my human rights in EU.

Letter to the Prosecutor General of Russia from Maxim Efimov`s laywer

The criminal case was filled on 5th April, 2012 by Petrozavodsk IK because of spreading the article “Karelia is tired of priests” in Internet (see a copy of the text in the Annex). Maxim Efimov is a suspect in committing the crime. A preventive measure against him has not been elected yet. He is currently in the Republic of Estonia. IK of the Republic of Karelia publicly stated that M. Efimov is wanted. According to the criminal procedure law the decision to send a request for extradition of a person in a foreign country shall be taken only by the General Prosecutor of the Russian Federation . In this case, there are no grounds to make such a request as far as there is no any basis for a prosecution of Maxim Efimov . On December 31, 2011 Maxim Efimov published an article "Karelia is tired of priests " in in Newspaper Zero Hour’s section on the website «right.karelia.ru». In the mentioned article M. Efimov expressed his own views and opinions about the religious organization and its employees. The investigation considered that the statements of Efimov M. aimed at belittling the dignity of the Orthodox Christians. However , these arguments are unfounded and unfirmed. Article 10 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and Article 29 of the Constitution guarantee the freedom of expression. First of all , Maxim Efimov criticizes the religious organization , its employees and managers in his article , "... the Russian Orthodox Church as well as the United Russia party are fooling the people by telling fairy tales ... ROC uses the nursery schools... Priests talks about everything .... ". The object of criticism in this case are a concrete religious organization and its employees . The article does not mention any parishioners and the people practicing Orthodox Christianity. Second, this article does not contain any statements containing incitement to commit illegal acts against a religious organization , its employees and members. These conclusions are supported by experts’ ( linguists ) research . For example , Ph.D. , professor of modern Russian Nizhny Novgorod State University (specialty " 10.02.01 - Russian language," professional experience of over 25 years) Radbil T.B. in his written statement said that " all of the analyzed utterances are directed solely at the ROC as a certain organizational structure, but not in any way affect the rights of all Orthodox believers. In the presented study materials there are no statements containing the justification for the implementation of crimes ( genocide, mass arrests , deportations, commit other illegal acts , including the use of illegitimate violence ) to groups of individuals , allocated on the basis of religion,.... statements containing a justification for human rights , freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens , depending on the religious affiliation have not been revealed ...... materials do not contain calls, inciting inter-religious hatred or discrimination against citizens on the basis of their religious affiliation. " The Plenum of the Supreme Court in its judgment of 28th June 2011 ( see paragraph 7 ), stressed that "Under the acts aimed at inciting hatred or enmity , it is understood , in particular , the statements justifying and (or) the need to claim genocide , mass arrests , deportations, commit other illegal acts , including the use of violence against members of any nation, race , adherents of a particular religion or other group of persons. Criticism of political organizations , ideological and religious associations, political , ideological or religious beliefs , national or religious identity is not in itself be regarded as an act aimed at inciting hatred or enmity . "Thus , the article does not call for illegal acts , the object of criticism in the article serves only a religious organization and its employees . According to the requirements of the Convention on Human Rights, the Constitution and Plenum Forces criticism of the religious organization can not be the basis or ground for criminal prosecution.T he investigator focuses on the used Efimov’s phrase " Orthodox otrodje ." He appeals to all believers in this expression. However, as correctly noted by experts (see findings in the appendix) , the statements must be analyzed in the context of the entire text. The experts pointed out ( see the conclusion Radbil TB, that " on the basis of the previous context expletive " Orthodox otrodje "and attributed it reduced the predicate" kuchkovatsya "refer to in authority officials from the Orthodox religion .... and don’t refer to the whole community of the faithful Orthodox Christians . " Consequently, the expressions used in the text refer only to “officials and authority of the Orthodox religion." There are no statements directed against ordinary Orthodox believers in the text. According to the Registry of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation, Russian Orthodox Church ( Moscow Patriarchate ) was registered as a legal entity and in accordance with Art. 152 of the Civil Code shall have the right to apply for protection of their reputation in a civil processing .The same way Its employees should protect their reputation in the same way . Protection of business reputation of the legal entity does not perform in the criminal process. In addition, a separate issue is worth to look at the object of criticism. In this case, it is a religious organization - the Russian Orthodox Church. Nowadays state officials as well representatives of the Russian Orthodox Church have repeatedly stated that the Russian Orthodox Church is actively involved in public life and have an influence and will further try to influence on decision-making by public authorities. Here are , in particular , certain provisions of the Social Concept of the Russian Orthodox Church : "The Church can interact with the State when it’s beneficial for the Church , an individual and society . For the Church, this interaction should be part of its saving mission, which embraces a comprehensive concern for a human . The Church is called to participate in the dispensation of a human’s life in all areas wherever it is possible as well as to join efforts with the secular authorities... " Taking these circumstances into consideration , refer to the text of Maxim Efimov’s article , who criticizes and expresses his own opinion about the Russian Orthodox Church revealing the nature of the interaction of the Russian Orthodox Church and the State, obtaining property by ROC and its intervention in public affairs .Thus , the ROC’s leadership is criticized by Efimov as a public political figure in his article. The Plenum of the Supreme Court has repeatedly emphasized that public political figures , which are all those " who hold public office and (or ) use of public resources , as well as all those who play a role in public life , whether in the fields of politics, economy , the arts, social services , sports or any other field " , agree to be the subject of public political debate and criticism in the media." They " can be criticized in regards to how they perform their duties as it is necessary for the public and responsible performance of their duties “[2]. Considering the cases involving accusations of extremism and belittling the dignity Supreme Court particularly should pay attention to international standards and practices of the European Court of Human Rights in its decisions. The Court thus repeatedly held that "any restrictions on freedom of expression , whether in the context of religious beliefs , or any other ,would be incompatible with Article 10 , unless it is due to the need “ [3] At the same time , "the need for any interference with the freedom of expression must be convincingly established ... first of all concerning the national authorities to assess whether there is a " pressing social need" that can justify this intervention " [4]and" intervention should be proportionate to the legitimate aim pursued “[5]. It should also be taken of the position of the Court, that "freedom of speech includes not only the" information " or " ideas " that are favorably received or regarded as inoffensive or as a neutral , but also those that offend, shock or disturb “’[6]. Obviously, in the guarantees of freedom of speech there would be no need if they are concerned only that "information" and "ideas" that are perceived by the state or part of the population or indifferently . To a much greater degree of protection need ideas that provoke public debate . In this connection it should also be taken into account that the publication in the newspaper Zero Hour is devoted to an issue of clear public interest [7] related to the assessment of the role of the Russian Orthodox Church and its functionaries in the life of Karelia and expenditure of the national budget ( taxpayers ) . The Court repeatedly stressed that " Article 10 paragraph 2 of the Convention leaves no room for restrictions on freedom of expression in the field of ... matters of public interest” In this case , the Court " convinced of the fact that journalistic freedom also implies the use of statements to a degree of exaggeration and even provocation " [8]. Criminal prosecution is itself a serious restriction of human rights, especially considering the possibility of imprisonment for up to 2 years , as stipulated sanction of Part 1 of Article 282 of the Criminal Code , and it is evident in the Efimov disproportionate to the aim pursued , taking into account that publication of Efimov includes in no calls for violence , and contains only criticism of the organization. In this case, no justification for the existence of a pressing social need to prosecute journalists for publishing a critical articl , the consequence is not granted, despite the fact that an obligation stems directly from the provisions of the European Convention and confirmed by the Supreme Court . Based on the above , please refuse IK of the Republic of Karelia in the direction of the request to the Republic of Estonia for extradition the suspected Maxim Mikhailovich Efimov. ________________________________ [1] http://www.patriarchia.ru/db/text/141422.html[2] Постановление Пленума Верховного Суда РФ от 24 февраля 2005г. N 3 "О судебной практике по делам о защите чести и достоинства граждан, а также деловой репутации граждан и юридических лиц" [2] Обзор практики рассмотрения судами Российской Федерации дел о защите чести, достоинства и деловой репутации, а также неприкосновенности частной жизни публичных лиц в области политики, искусства, спорта [3] Wingrove v. the United Kingdom, 1996, §53 [4] Worm vs. Austria, 1997, §47 [5] Dalban vs. Romania, 1999, §47 [6] Janowski vs. Poland, 1999, §30 [7] Surek vs. Turkey, 1999, §61 [8] Bladet Tromsø and Stensaas vs. Norway, 1999, §59

В докладе Госдепа США затронуты нарушения прав человека в Карелии

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Госдепартамента США выпустило Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012. http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204331#wrapper Качественный доклад о ситуации с правами человека в России, в котором упоминается и моё незаконное уголовное преследование. Цитирую: a. Freedom of Speech and Press Violence and Harassment: On May 12, the Petrozavodsk City Court charged blogger and activist Maxim Yefimov with inciting hatred against the Russian Orthodox Church after he criticized Russian Orthodox priests on his blog. The city court ordered he be placed in a hospital for mentally disabled persons. The Karelia Supreme Court subsequently overturned the city court’s decision to force a psychiatric evaluation. Yefimov fled the country and remained wanted on charges of inciting hatred at year’s end. Internet Freedom In many regions, including Stavropol, Khabarovsk, Rostov, Ulan-Ude, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Saratov, and Omsk, local prosecutors’ offices and courts ordered ISPs to block content on the Federal List of Extremist Materials. During the year select bloggers were prosecuted for content they published online. Maxim Yefimov was charged with extremism after publishing an article on his blog in December 2011 entitled “Russia is Tired of Priests,” which sharply criticized the Russian Orthodox Church. During the investigation authorities demanded that Yefimov submit to psychiatric evaluation. Fearing forced psychiatric incarceration, Yefimov left the country, after which the government added him to the Interpol wanted list on July 31. http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204331#wrapper О чём я думаю, читая доклад Госдепартамента США? Такие доклады регулярно делаются по всем странам. Почему США есть дело до какого-то обычного человека, вот вроде меня, например, из какой-то норы под названием Карелия? Моё государство отказывает мне в праве иметь свои мысли и высказывать их. А чужое государство - это право защищает. Всё потому, что государства делятся не на свои и чужие, а на правовые и неправовые. И если в одной стране преступления замалчиваются, то другая страна попытается эту ситуацию исправить... Этот доклад о правах человека мог бы взять за образец уполномоченный по правам человека в Карелии Шмыков, не будь он зловонной андроповской отрыжкой. Никаких нарушений моих прав спившийся КГБшник Шмыков, конечно, не увидел. Он подписывает - вряд ли даже сам составляет - какие-то жалкие писульки, совершенно не отражающие реальную картину мрачной ситуации с правами человека в Карелии. Что аппарат омбудсмена Карелии, что карельская епархия - это всё аффилированные структуры КГБ, который по-прежнему уничтожает Россию и является угрозой демократическому миру. Максим Ефимов, политический беженец Эстония-ЕС

The fence took off in Petrozavodsk

Indeed, our region is anomalous : fences fly, but planes don't. While taking off it hardly killed two persons. The authorities don`t care so much about people's safety. Moreover the daily apathy, show-off, carelessness, greed and pathetic hope for a miracle have been started to be justified by the divine will. We have a house on fire by the will of Allah there, and a drunken pope running over the people by the will of Christ here. God helps to steal money from the budget. The Petrozavodsk city court appeared to like mentioning God while making its lawless decisions: "The wind power is a divine power ". This statement was listed in one of the court rulings, which was canceled afterwards. Rising idiocy and insanity coming from the authorities , will cost us all a very high price. So even if you do not want to change anything, then one day you can easily die under the fence, because you did not care that people in power were irresponsible, greedy, mean and stupid. And no God will help you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=FIVCt_CAMEY Maxim Efimov

Православные попы возбуждают ненависть и призывают к насилию

Поклонники черносотенных речей протоиерея Смирнова тиражируют выступление этого попяры, на которые не обращают внимание правоохранительные органы. Смирнов откровенно призывает к погромам и насилию, к нарушению прав граждан. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2S3YDYhh0g, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Toj8jUNdn4, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXSPjLVa7wA, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD7VIuDNDeE Я прошу дать оценку этим высказываниям Генеральную прокуратуру, Следственный комитет и МВД. Прошу также проверить сайт Смирнова на предмет разжигания розни, вражды и экстремизма, оскорбления и унижения достоинства различных групп граждан: http://www.dimitrysmirnov.ru/blog/otvet-10994/ Подробнее о ранее сделанных обращениях тут: http://maxim-efimov.livejournal.com/194961.html Кроме того, в Youtube мной была отправлена жалоба на эти ролики. Уведомление Youtube: Благодарим вас. Ваша жалоба получена и скоро будет рассмотрена. Уведомление Следственного Комитета: Ваше обращение принято. Номер обращения 283737. Уведомление Генпрокуратуры: Ваше сообщение принято под номером 127972 и будет рассмотрено в установленном порядке.