Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian director, who is illegally detained in the Russian prison, today has won the prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Sakharov. He also has become the first Ukrainian to win this award. The ceremony will be held in Strasbourg on December 12, so we hope that Oleg will be able to receive the award personally. More information – in reactions from DUMKA.
On his page, the President of Ukraine expressed his gratitude to the European Parliament and stressed that this is a very timely signal of support in the dramatic moment of life of the Ukrainian patriot. According to Petro Poroshenko, this is appreciation and high recognition of Oleg’s courage and persistence, a model for the world’s struggle for justice, dignity, European values, and human rights. The President is convinced that this decision of the European Parliament can approach the moment of Sentsov’s liberation.
The decision of the European Parliament was also welcomed by the Commissioner of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for human rights Lyudmila Denisova. Ombudswoman stressed that this prize is handed over to people who have made an exceptional contribution to the struggle for human rights throughout the globe. According to Denisova, the decision of EP deputies once again demonstrated to Russia and the whole civilized world the absurdity of the accusations of the Ukrainian director in alleged “terrorism”. It is quite possible that this will prompt Russia to set free Sentsov and all illegally detained Ukrainians.
As it reports Hromadske, Oleg’s sister Natalia Kaplan says that Sentsov really deserved this award, and this may help him to hang tight. After all, he hasn’t been forgotten, moreover at such a high level. Oleg still doesn’t know about his victory, so, either the sister herself or the lawyer will tell him later about it.
The support and greetings to Oleg were expressed on Twitter by European politicians. The deputy of European Parliament, Rebecca Harms, posted on her page a photo with the inscription that has already become a symbol of the struggle for freedom of Ukrainian political prisoners: Free Sentsov.
Rebecca Harms credited all her colleagues in the European Parliament for taking such a decision.
Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament, emphasized that Oleg has become a symbol of the struggle for the release of political prisoners around the world. He also added that this award is a statement of solidarity with him and the requirement for immediate release.
Dalia Grybauskaitė, the Lithuanian President, stressed that no repression or imprisonment would ever be able to cover the truth.
Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, congratulated Sentsov and repeated his message to Moscow – release Sentsov and all other political prisoners detained after the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia.
On the page of the Ukrainian delegation to the European Union, it was also stated that Sentsov’s Sakharov Prize is a decisive message and signal for Russia to free all Ukrainian prisoners.
Olexandra Matviychuk, human rights defender and coordinator of “EuroMaidan SOS” is convinced: the whole story of Oleg Sentsov – when nothing is left, you always have a word and your own position. These simple tools are of a great importance. And now the very position and the word of the artist resonate with hearts of thousands and thousands of people around the world.
Writer Viktoria Amelina said: “I know that Europe and its best part are with us, but every proof of it is so pleasing.”
Oleksandr Snidalov, the activist of the Ukrainian community in the Netherlands, stressed that he believes that soon representatives of the EU will be able to hand over this award to Oleg in person.
On the eve of the award, the MP and ex-journalist Mustafa Nayyem wrote that even the very fact of Oleg nominated for this prize is symbolic. And this time, for the third time in the last 30 years, the prize “comes back” to Russia. Indeed, since the very beginning prize was given only twice to human rights defenders, dissidents and prisoners in Russia.
Alongside this Nayyem told about three other nominees for the Sakharov Prize this year.
Today the MP wrote that taking into account different reasons, not everyone can help Oleg now. However, Mustafa Nayyem recalled how this year he took part in one of the projects where he read Sentsov’s short story. The text ends with very important words: “Somewhere inside me, it just clicked. It doesn’t matter what exactly. The important thing is that since then I’ve never been silent when somebody tried to humiliate someone and I’m going to be this kind of person in the future.”
