Preparing for exchange: Ukrainian director Sentsov was rushed to Moscow

Russian media reported that the Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov, who is serving an 20-year sentence in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug), was delivered to a pre-trial detention center in Moscow. These messages appeared against the background of the expected exchange of prisoners between Russia and Ukraine, writes Air force.

Sentsov, convicted of preparing a terrorist act in Crimea, was sent from a colony to Moscow. About this with reference to their sources, the agency Interfax and TASS. Earlier this was reported by the telegram channel Baza, referring to a source in the colony in Labytnangi.

“Sentsov was transported from a colony in the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, where he was serving his sentence, to Moscow - to Butyrka,” said Interfax’s interlocutor.

“It was delivered to Moscow as part of the ongoing exchange process,” the Interfax source added.

Another Interfax source said that Sentsov could have been taken to the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center rather than to the Butyrka prison. Baza also claims that Sentsov is in Lefortovo.

The Kremlin refused to comment on Sentsov’s transfer to Moscow. “No, I can’t [say anything],” Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Deputy head of the Federal Penitentiary Service Valery Maksimenko told Govorit Moskva radio that he has no information about the convicted Sentsov.

“Lawyer Dmitry Dinze has not yet confirmed the information about the transfer of Oleg Sentsov from Labytnanga,” Pavel Chikov, head of the human rights group Agora, wrote in his Telegram channel. “Just a few days ago he was still there and received letters. However, a special stage by air could transport him within a day.”

Sentsov made part of the journey by plane, and part by road, writes Moskovsky Komsomolets, citing its sources.

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

Last week, Russian media reported that Sentsov would not participate in the exchange of detainees in Ukraine and Russia.

The fact that Moscow and Kyiv have reached the final stage of agreeing on the exchange of persons held in the territory of both countries was reported last week by Russian media and lawyers of detainees and convicted persons. President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky will do everything to ensure that the exchange takes place; this is his personal initiative, Kommersant wrote on Thursday.

Photo: president.gov.ua

On the eve of the Kiev Court of Appeal released from custody the head of RIA Novosti-Ukraine Kirill Vyshinsky, accused of treason. Preventive measure changed to personal obligation.

“When we are ready, we will inform you,” Peskov said, answering the question whether it is correct to consider Vyshinsky’s release to be the start of the process of exchanging detainees.

Negotiations regarding the exchange of detainees between Ukraine and Russia continue, but the issue of Sentsov’s exchange has not been finally resolved, Viktor Medvedchuk, head of the political council of the Opposition Platform - For Life party, told Interfax.

“This issue is being dealt with by the official authorities and the President of Ukraine, Mr. Zelensky, and his team. I know that such negotiations are currently underway, but there is no final version yet. Likewise, the issue of the person you named, Sentsov, has not been finally resolved,” Medvechuk told the agency.

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

The day before, the press secretary of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine Larisa Sargan announced the possibility of an exchange according to the “35 to 35” formula. Last week there was talk of an exchange of 33 on both sides.

Sentsov was detained in the annexed Crimea in the 2014 year. In August 2015, the North Caucasian District Military Court sentenced the Ukrainian director to 20 years in a maximum security colony, finding him guilty of preparing a terrorist attack.

The issue of Sentsov’s exchange was complicated by the fact that in Moscow he was considered a citizen of Russia. He himself insists on Ukrainian citizenship. In the colony, Sentsov went on hunger strike, which lasted 145 days.

Zelensky proposed exchanging Sentsov for Vyshinsky during a press conference on July 19. “We are not talking about an exchange regarding our sailors - the sailors must be returned to us. If we are talking about goodwill, and we really want such a time to come faster, we are ready to change Vyshinsky... Sentsov is an example,” said the President of Ukraine (quoted from UNN).

Kommersant, citing a source close to Zelensky, wrote that the agreement on the exchange was allegedly reached after the first telephone conversation between the presidents of Russia and Ukraine, which took place on July 11.

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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