Sixth birthday in captivity: how the world congratulated Oleg Sentsov on the 43 anniversary

A Ukrainian director and writer Oleg Sentsov, a prisoner in the north of Russia, on Saturday, July 13, is celebrating the year 43. This is the sixth birthday he meets in prison. He writes about it Voice of America.

Photo: Facebook / Serge Skorodinsky

Representatives of the international community once again called for the release of Sentsov.

“We salute Sentsov’s courage and determination and join the people of Ukraine in calling on Russia to immediately release all Ukrainian political prisoners,” the US Embassy in Ukraine said in a statement in support of the Ukrainian director.

They did not forget about Oleg Sentsov, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkyavichus noted in a statement.

“Together with the international community, we will continue to call for his unconditional release,” the official said.

On the subject: Political prisoner Sentsov in New York was awarded the Freedom to Write Award

Sentsov’s lawyer, Dmitriy Dinze, wrote the day before that Sentsov feels fine and writes new stories in the colony.

As announced earlier by the head of the Center for Civil Liberties, Alexander Matviychuk, 13 July promotions in support of Oleg Sentsov are scheduled around the world. In addition to Ukrainian cities, events are planned in Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, Russia, and also in the USA.

In particular, the “Write a letter to Sentsov” campaign took place in New York. Until July 25, everyone who wants to support the political prisoner can write him a letter in paper or electronic form. Letters can be sent to the Razom for Ukraine office (2 140nd Ave., Suite 305, New York, NY 10003) or by e-mail: [email protected] (topic: Oleg Sentsov’s birthday). All letters will be transferred to Oleg Sentsov.

On the subject: Crimean Oleg Sentsov received the PEN America Award

On July 12, during the opening ceremony of the 10 International Odessa Film Festival, there was talk about Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia, and in addition, before each film of the festival, there was a short video about the fate of Oleg Sentsov, calling for his release.

Crimean director Oleg Sentsov and activist Alexander Kolchenko, along with two other people, were detained by representatives of the Russian special services in the annexed Crimea in May 2014, on charges of organizing terrorist attacks on the peninsula.

In August, the North Caucasian District Military Court in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don sentenced Sentsov to 2015 years of a strict regime colony on charges of terrorist activities in the Crimea. Kolchenko received 20 years of a colony. Both did not admit their guilt.

On the subject: More than 100 days of Sentsov's hunger strike: what you need to know about the Ukrainian victim and other record hunger strikes

The human rights center "Memorial" added Sentsov and Kolchenko to the list of political prisoners. The petition on the White House website with a call to save Oleg Sentsov, convicted in Russia, was signed by more than 100 thousand people.

October 25 2018 of the year Sentsov was awarded the Sakharov Prize of the European Parliament's “For Freedom of Thought” prize.

Recall Sentsov was detained in May 2014, in Simferopol. He was accused of preparing the attack. According to the FSB, on the night of 9 in May 2014, he and several other defendants were going to make explosions at the Eternal Flame memorial and a monument to Lenin in Simferopol. They were also accused of setting fire to the offices of the offices of United Russia and the Russian Community of Crimea.

Sentsov was taken out of the Crimea, he was tried by the district military court in Rostov-on-Don. The Russian justice considers him a citizen of Russia, although the director did not recognize the annexation of the Crimea and refused to receive a Russian passport. He denied any involvement in the preparation of the explosions.

In August, 2015, the North Caucasian District Military Court found Sentsov guilty of organizing a terrorist community and sentenced him to 20 years of a strict regime colony. Along with him, was convicted activist Alexander Kolchenko, who was given 10 years in prison.

The director during the trial stated that he explained his persecution with his position on what is happening in Ukraine. During the events of spring 2014, the director supported the campaign for the territorial integrity of Ukraine and brought products to the Ukrainian military, blocked in military units.

The accusations against the director were based on the testimony of witnesses. Alexei Chirniy and Gennady Afanasyev, accused in the same case, refused to speak at court, accusing the investigation of torture. Sentsov himself spoke about beatings and torture by FSB officers after his arrest.

Soon after, Afanasyev was pardoned by Vladimir Putin. After his release, he was appointed Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine for the release of prisoners.

As ForumDaily wrote earlier:

• From May to October 2018 year Sentsov held a hunger strikedemanding the release of Ukrainian political prisoners who are in Russia.
• In May, 2018 was held in New York action-performance for the release of Oleg Sentsov. The action was held under the slogan “Time is running out” (Time is running out). To demonstrate the idea of ​​the passing time, during a protest, an hourglass performance was held, the dancers were dressed in striped costumes.
• In June, 2018, in support of Sentsov, spoke dozens of celebrities and 38 countriesamong which are the USA, France and the UK.
• October 6 2018 years Oleg Sentsov stopped hunger strike due to a critical health condition.
• How do they live in Russian prisoners political prisoners Ukrainians Oleg Sentsov and Alexander Kolchenko.

Read also on ForumDaily:

How does a Ukrainian live, who testified against Sentsov and received a pardon from Putin?

More than 100 days of Sentsov's hunger strike: what you need to know about the Ukrainian victim and other record hunger strikes

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