Prague congratulates Sentsov on winning Sakharov Prize, reminds of dozens of Ukrainians jailed in Russia

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic has congratulated Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov on being awarded the Sakharov Prize 2018 and reminds about dozens of Ukrainian political prisoners currently jailed in Russia.

“We welcome the decision of the European Parliament to award this year’s Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov. Since 2014, the Czech Republic has been following closely the case of Oleg Sentsov, illegally held in a Russian prison along with dozens of other Ukrainian citizens,” the Ministry’s statement reads.

The Foreign Ministry of the Czech Republic emphasizes that they have repeatedly drawn the attention of the international community to an increasingly aggravated situation with human rights and fundamental freedoms on the Crimean peninsula, which the Czech Republic considers to be an integral part of Ukraine.

As reported, the European Parliament 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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