Russian court bans video of protest speech by Karelian city councilman, who called for separatist referendum

A court in Petrozavodsk has banned a video recording of a statement by Suayarvi Zavarkin, a city councilman in Suojarvi, where he spoke at a protest on May 20 about the need to hold a referendum to separate the northern Republic of Karelia from the Russian Federation. The court ruled that video of the speech is extremist.

The protesters at the May 20 rally called for the resignation of Alexander Khudilainen, who heads the Karelian government. In his speech, Zavarkin complained that Moscow and the federal government ignore the region's problems and its residents. "So if the Russian Federation won't hear us, I think we'll hold a referendum. Karelia doesn't need Russia, so let's break off. That would be the right thing to do," Zavarkin said.

Petrozavodsk's district attorney appealed to the courts to ban video of Zavarkin's speech, after forensic experts concluded that his language included "a public call to actions that violate the territorial integrity of the Russian Federation."

Investigators have also opened a criminal case against Zavarkin, accusing him of inciting separatism. Zavarkin denies these charges, saying he didn't incite anyone. "My idea wasn't for Karelia to separate from the Russian Federation," he claims. "What was said was my personal opinion."

Zavarkin's lawyer says he was only calling for a referendum, which is a right under the Russian Constitution, international norms, and Karelian local law.

Zavarkin told the website OBD-Info that he's repeatedly petitioned various authorities about dilapidated housing in Suojarvi and demanded an investigation into the activities of the city's authorities, whom he suspects of embezzlement.