Russian penal servants state that Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov can spend the Sakharov prize of the European Parliament for Freedom of Thought to buy products from a prison shop, as KrymRealii reports.
“The money can be transferred in rubles (Russian currency, - ed.) to the bank of the correctional facility of the penal correction system where he serves his sentence. The money will be credited to his personal account,” the news agency cites Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia.
It was noted that in accordance with Russia’s Penal Enforcement Code, the convicted have a right for purchasing food and basic necessities in prison’s shop for money earned while serving, pensions, social subsidies, and remittances.
However, Russian Code imposes restrictions on spending the transferred money. These restrictions depend on the prison regime.
Reportedly, 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.
Reportedly, 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.
Related video:
