In early October the Helsinki District Court remanded MV-Lehti website founder Ilja Janitskin into custody in absentia, paving the way for police and prosecutors to issue a European warrant for his arrest.
The court took the unusual step when police failed to track down the founder of the anti-immigrant website for questioning on suspicion of inciting hatred against an ethnic group as well as aggravated slander.
Janitskin, who now resides in Spain, has said he will not voluntarily come forward for questioning. He applied to have the remand decision overturned in the Helsinki Court of Appeal, describing the ruling as premature, disproportionate and unnecessary. However the Appeal Court upheld the lower court’s decision.
Janitskin has said that he may consider seeking asylum in Spain in a bid to avoid facing the authorities in Finland.
