EU Commissioner for Justice calls on Russia to release Sentsov

EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova in a letter to Russian Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov has called for the release of imprisoned Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov, Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner Liudmyla Denisova has said on Facebook.

"I have received a letter from Ukraine's representative to the EU Mykola Tochytskyi. He reported on an appeal from EU Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova to Russian Justice Minister Alexander Konovalov. Vera Jourova calls for the release of Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov from a Russian prison. She insists that Ukraine's representatives and I as an ombudsman be granted access to him and that an independent group of doctors provide him with the necessary medical assistance," Denisova wrote.

She added that she and the international community were waiting for a speedy response from the Russian minister.

"The appeal of the EU Commissioner is another step towards the return of all captives of the Kremlin to Ukraine, to their loved ones," the ombudsman added.

As Ukrinform reported, Sentsov, illegally sentenced to 20 years in prison on trumped-up charges of terrorist activities, on May 14 this year declared an endless hunger strike demanding the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners held in Russia.

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