Canada calls for Russia to release Sentsov and all political prisoners

Canada is deeply concerned about the state of Oleg Sentsov and calls for Russia to immediately release him.

In a post on Twitter, Global Affairs Canada stated: "Canada remains concerned by the plight of Oleg Sentsov, as today marks day 60 of his hunger strike. We reiterate our call for Russia to immediately release Sentsov and all political prisoners”.

Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov was detained by Russian security services in Crimea in May 2014.

He was sentenced to 20 years in a penal colony in Russia for alleged "plotting acts of terrorism."

On May 14, Sentsov went on a hunger strike demanding to release all the Ukrainians jailed in Russia and in annexed Crimea.

About 70 Ukrainians are political prisoners in Russia and occupied Crimea. This list also includes Ukrinform journalist Roman Sushchenko, who was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment in a high-security penal colony on fabricated charges of "espionage."

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