Open Russia activist convicted for fraud in Ufa receives political asylum in Estonia
UFA. April 5 (Interfax) - Estonia has granted political asylum to Konstantin Chadlin, an activist of the division of Open Russia in Bashkortostan.
"Having studied all case materials on my request for political asylum, the Estonian authorities found my request for protection from persecution for my views and convictions to be substantiated," Chadlin said on Facebook.
The activist left Russia in spring 2017.
Chadlin told Interfax he had been in a refugee camp before being granted protection and a residence permit in Estonia,
"In Russia I was persecuted and I believe I was illegally convicted because of my political convictions," he said.
According to the information available in the Ufa Kalininsky District Court, Chadlin was convicted in absentia for fraud in November 2017.
The court press service said the man was sentenced to ten years in jail.
It was determined that Chadlin created a group in 2014 that stole citizens' money by deceit by pretending to sell used cars that were allegedly pledged in banks. The total damage reached some 3.7 million rubles, the press service said.