Freeland: Canada calls on Russia to free Sentsov

Canada is concerned for well-being of Oleg Sentsov and calls on Russia to release imprisoned Ukrainian film director.

"Canada is deeply concerned for the well-being of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, currently in jail and on a hunger strike to protest Russia's unjust treatment of Ukrainian political prisoners. We call on Russia to release him," Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland wrote on Twitter.

In 2014, Russian court sentenced Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov to 20 years in prison on trumped-up charges of plotting terrorist attacks. On May 14, 2018, Sentsov went on a hunger strike demanding to release all Ukrainian political prisoners.

Currently, 64 Ukrainian political prisoners are held in Russia and annexed Crimea, including Ukrinform correspondent Roman Sushchenko, who was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment on charges of espionage.

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