Calexit next? Movement calling for Californian independence opens 'embassy' in Russia

A CAMPAIGN calling for the independence of California from the United States has opened up a self-declared embassy in Russia.

The movement, Yes California, is hoping to hold a “Calexit” referendum as it proposes a separation from the US, much like Britain's divorce.

During a press conference, the group’s leader Louis Marinelli said it will not seek military assistance from to assist the split.

Mr Marinelli is planning on holding a referendum in 2019, which it wants to be recognised and accepted by the US.

He added the “embassy” will act as a cultural centre to help educate Russians about California’s history, boost trade and promote tourism.

Mr Marinelli said: “We’re not requesting military assistance from . We’re certainly going to request the recognition of our 2019 independence referendum result, as we’re going to request that the entire international community recognises the results as a fair and honest referendum.

Yes California open embassy in RussiaRT•CNN

A movement hoping for California's independence from the US open Russian embassy

We’re opening up a conversation in Russia over Californian independence from the US

Louis Marinelli

“That is something we need to do after the referendum is held but we want to lay the groundwork for that now and build a relationship – we’re opening up a conversation in Russia and it’s a much smaller degree to what the Americans went to when they wanted their independence from the British empire.”

The Californian independence movement has built momentum in the wake of President-elect 's election victory in November.

The group describe itself as a “non-violent campaign to establish the country of California using any and all legal and constitutional means to do so”.

Mr Marinelli, who lives in and runs the campaign from Russia, was forced to deny that there was any involvement from Moscow in the movement.

California Russian embassyRT

The group's leader Louis Marinelli said he won't request Russian military assistance

Speaking on CNN he claimed he was simply “trying to reach out the international community” because in order to become a real nation state they must be recognised by other nations.

The Yes California leader said: “Our goal is to have it on the ballot by 2019. We started out about two years ago and have been travelling around the state of California, and we’ve been gaining support ever since.

“Since the election of people have been giving us a lot more attention and we’ve been growing so fast and so significantly that we are having trouble keeping up this the support.”

The group requires 500,000 signatures in order to take their referendum request to a public ballot, Mr Marinelli has previously filed several ballot initiative proposals to secession for California, none of which have been successful in gathering enough signatures to go to a public vote.

He has compared his movement to that of Brexit and Scottish independence, suggesting the people of California want to legally remove themselves peacefully from a political union.

“Whereas vote was a succession from the European Union – our Calexit will be a succession from the American union,” added Mr Marinelli.

“But it’s more like the Scottish independence referendum because we are trying to become our own independent country.

“There’s a mixture of those two and we do intend to exactly promote the idea of Scottish independence referendum with the same question that they asked their voters.”

While the election of Mr Trump has been a catalyst in helping to promote the movement, Mr Marinelli insists his victory has nothing to do with the initial campaign which started two years prior to the November election.

He says his real motivation is a reaction to the “broken system” of American politics, and Yes California is a chance for people to leave that system.