Guillermo Picci, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy, asked to report on the condition of Oleg Sentsov, during a telephone call with his Russian colleague Aleksandr Grushko. Reads the message on the website of the Italian MFA.
The conversation took place on August 16.
‘Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aleksandr Grushko assured Picci, the Deputy of the State Secretary that the health condition of the Ukrainian filmmaker hunger striking in the protest is under permanent monitoring. There is no risk to his life. Sentsov has access to all necessary aid,’ reads the message.
Reportedly, Oleg Sentsov was detained by Russian intelligence agencies in Crimea on May 2014. Later he was sentenced to 20 years of the colony under the accusation of terrorist activity on the territory of Crimea. Oleg does not admit his guilt.
Sentsov declared a hunger strike with a requirement to release all Ukrainian political prisoners in the Russian Federation.
At the end of June, Ludmyla Denisova claimed that a priest wasn’t allowed to visit Sentsov.
Reportedly, Kolchenko declared a hunger strike on May 31, requiring the release of Oleg Sentsov. He had to suspend the strike, as he got very weak.
Kolchenko and Sentsov were detained by Russian intelligence services in Crimea in May 2014. They were accused of the organization of a terrorist act on the peninsula. Kolchenko was sentenced to 10 years of the colony, Sentsov to 20 years. Both are denying their guilt.
Recently, Sentsov’s lawyer stated on the deterioration of his condition. He has a very low hemoglobin, which led to anemia, as well as a very low pulse. Oleg has a bad heart, he was asked twice to be taken to a hospital.
However, the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia in Yamalo-Nenets County claimed that the medical staff examines Sentsov on daily basis, and his condition is satisfactory. Furthermore, according to the lawyer of the political prisoner, the Chief Doctor of the Hospital in Labytnangi city was threatening Oleg Sentsov by tying up and drugging him with medicine and artificial nutrition.