U.S. embassy: Decision to award Sakharov Prize to Sentsov confirms he is prisoner of conscience

Russia should immediately release the winner of 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought so that Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov could accept his prize in person.

 “The decision to award the 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Oleg Sentsov is further confirmation that he is a prisoner of conscience. He has displayed courage, dignity, and determination in defending Ukrainian prisoners unjustly jailed by Russia. Oleg should be able to accept his well-deserved prize in person: Russia should immediately release him and all other political prisoners," the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine posted on Twitter.

As reported, the European Parliament has awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov, who is currently illegally imprisoned in the Russian Federation. The decision was approved in Strasbourg on October 25.

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