In response to an invite from former  Ambassador James F. Collins to attend a Carnegie Endowment For International Peace launch of a book by Dmitri Trenin that focuses on Russia's supposed promising changes, dissident  Andrei Piontkovsky, author of Another Look Inside Putin's Soul, e-mailed Collins the following:

"Dear Ambassador Collins, thank you for your kind invitation. Unfortunately the day when insightful and optimistic Mr. Trenin presents his objective analysis I have another obligation.

I'll be in Moscow on my own Moscow 2007 trial facing FSB charges of extremism. Please pass Mr. Trenin my fascination with his sense of historical optimism and his intellectual flexibility. 

Sincerely Yours, Andrei Piontkovsky" 

The crime of "extremism" is being abused by the Putin government as it attempts to shut down all  comments by its citizens that are critical of those in power. See the plight of a 71 year  old pensioner and others here and  here.

For information on Piontkovsky's "legal" troubles see here.