European Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn called the Russian Federation to let out Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov for awarding Sakharov Prize, the European Commissioner claimed this on Twitter.
‘Next week, Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov will be awarded the Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament. Convicted to 20 years in prison, he won’t be able to receive the prize in person. I reiterate therefore: Let Sentsov get Sakharov,’ Hahn said.
Next week, #Ukrainian film director Oleg #Sentsov will be awarded the #SakharovPrize by @Europarl_EN. Convicted to 20 years in prison,he won’t be able to receive the prize in person. I reiterate therefore: #LetSentsovGetSakharov pic.twitter.com/pGFm93hN1G
Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov was awarded Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. The decision was announced by the European Parliament on October 25. It is supposed that the official ceremony is to be held in Strasbourg on December 12.
As we reported earlier, Oleg Sentsov stopped the hunger strike on the 144th day. The Russian side officially announced the statement by Sentsov but did not name the reason. According to the lawyer of Sentsov, the decision to end the hunger strike was made after Russian doctors and penitentiary facility workers issued an ultimatum to Sentsov, suggesting that he either voluntarily stop the hunger strike or agree to be force-fed.
Oleg Sentsov announced a hunger strike in May 2018, demanding to release him and the rest of Ukrainian political prisoners illegally kept by the Kremlin. Sentsov has already survived four health crises.
Sentsov was detained in Crimea in 2014.
