A leader of the movement is an expat living in Russia named Louis Marinelli. Source: Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-12-07/how-to-make-california-great-secede-with-a-little-help-from-putin Louis Marinelli is President of the Yes California campaign– he teaches English in Russia. Marinelli attended the ‘Dialogue of Nations’ which was funded by a grant from the Russian National Charity Foundation and organized in Moscow by the Anti-Globalist Movement of Russia. Russian National Charity Foundation is a patronage of Putin. The National Charity Foundation advocates extreme forms of Russian nationalism, Russian Imperialism. The leader is Aleksandr Ionov, he sits on two influential pro-Kremlim boards, the board of Antimaidan, Officers of Russia, which have both indicated their goal of purging liberal opposition from Russia. Ionov made both Bashar Assad and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad honorary members of the Russian National Charity Foundation. Ionov’s group has been courting and supporting a number of U.S. secessionist groups in the U.S. including groups in Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas and Florida, and members from groups in all of these states have attended National Charity Foundation events in Russia. Marinelli the leader of Yes California stated that his group is closely coordinating with the Texas National Movement. Cal Attorney General Approves Signature Gathering for CalExit: Source: https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/initiatives/pdfs/Title%20and%20Summary%20%2816-0011%29.pdf? The Attorney General of California has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure: CALIFORNIA NATIONHOOD. INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND STATUTE. Repeals provision in California Constitution stating California is an inseparable part of the United States and that the United States Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Places question of whether California should become a separate country on a future ballot. Treats result of such future vote as declaration of independence from the United States if 50 percent of registered voters participate and 55 percent of those voting approve. Requires Governor to request California admission to the United Nations if voters approve independence. Summary of estimate by Legislative Analyst and Director of Finance of fiscal impact on state and local government: The fiscal impact of this measure is dependent on various factors, including a vote by the people on this measure, a subsequent vote on California independence, possible legal challenges, and implementation issues. Assuming that California actually became an independent nation, the state and its local governments would experience major, but unknown, budgetary impacts. This measure also would result in tens of millions of dollars of one-time state and local election costs. For the petition to succeed and make it to the ballot, the group is required to obtain 585,407 signatures in 6 months. Audio File: Cal Exit from Fox40 Source: http://fox40.com/2016/11/22/the-quest-for-californias-independence/