Skip navigation

0Meta Navigation

× Close search

Navigation

Home Newsroom News and press releases OSCE Representative calls for release of Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov in a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov
Newsroom

OSCE Representative calls for release of Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov in a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

VIENNA 4 June 2018
Oleg Sentsov, a writer and film director from Crimea, Ukraine who was arrested in Simferopol by Russian security services in May 2014 and convicted in Rostov-on-Don in August 2015. He has been on a hunger strike since 14 May 2018. (REUTERS/Sergey Pivovarov)

VIENNA, 4 June 2018 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, today expressed his concern about the continued detention of Oleg Sentsov, a writer and film director from Crimea, Ukraine, after sending a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation last week, urging to review the case.

“I call on the Russian authorities to review Sentsov’s case and to release him immediately,” Désir wrote in a letter to Sergey Lavrov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation. “His continued detention is unjustified and creates a strong chilling effect for those in Crimea who have the right to express their views and opinions freely. His voice should not be silenced, no matter how critical.”

Sentsov was arrested in Simferopol by Russian security services in May 2014 and convicted in Rostov-on-Don in August 2015. He is currently serving a 20-year prison term on terrorism charges at a high-security penal colony in the Russian Federation. His sentence was upheld on appeal in November 2015. He has been on a hunger strike since 14 May 2018.

“I am particularly worried about the deterioration of his health condition and morale after he has started a hunger strike,” Désir added.

In his letter to Foreign Minister Lavrov, Representative Désir also noted reports indicating a number of irregularities in the judicial proceedings of the case as well as disturbing allegations of torture against Sentsov, including beatings, suffocation and threats of sexual assault.

The Representative raised Sentsov’s case in a public statement in May 2014 (see: https://www.osce.org/fom/119329).

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, twitter @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.