Today is 100 days from the moment when film director Oleg Sentsov illegally detained in Russia has declared an endless hunger strike. His only requirement is to set free the other captives of the Kremlin, who are also illegally detained behind the Russian bars. What is written on this terrible anniversary – in reactions from DUMKA.
The President of Ukraine stressed that there were no international talks, no meetings, where the world leaders weren’t addressed, urging them to put more pressure on Kremlin in order to release Oleg and all of our captives. According to Petro Poroshenko, today the whole world speaks Sentsov’s name.
The spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Mariana Betsa, emphasized that human life is of the highest value and once again demanded the Russian authorities to release Oleg.
Betsa also addressed the partners and international organizations to increase pressure on Russia.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius joined the demands to liberate the Ukrainian prisoner, adding that Sentsov is on the verge of life and death.
Screenwriter Andriy Khokholkin also wrote about one hundred days of starvation. According to him, this is one hundred days of people’s activity all over the world, one hundred days of inactivity of international human rights and political organizations, a hundred days of sabotage of those in Ukraine who simply don’t see their personal political dividends and one hundred days during which the collapse of values finally had happened. Because, neither Europe nor the United States is willing to oppose a political maniac, Vladimir Putin.
Journalist Sergiy Tsyhipa noted with sadness that chances are fading away since demonstrations and flash mobs don’t have any influence on Putin. The Kremlin is playing with someone else’s life, like a kitten with a mouse. He consciously and demonstratively proves the world that he is the leading man here. And we, according to the journalist, can only wait.
According to journalist Iryna Romaliyska, now, there are about seventy political prisoners behind the Kremlin bars, but the exact figure remains unknown. Today, under the embassy of the Russian Federation, the activists performed another action in support of Oleg Sentsov.
Journalist Olha Komarova reported about this action, reminding us that now Oleg’s state is unknown. If you decide to write a letter to Sentsov, his sister advises writing in Russian, because Ukrainian translation must be accompanied by a notarized translation.
Maria Banko, a journalist, emphasized that such events are held all over the world. People joined them in Britain, Sweden, the United States, Denmark and even in Kenya. The worst thing can happen only when we’ll believe that our efforts are in vain, therefore we shouldn’t forget that every post is important, every thought is expressed, every thread of memory.
Journalist and producer Nelli Muminova said that Sister of Oleg, Natalya Kaplan, advised not to fall into apathy despite everything, and moreover not to assume that all our efforts could harm Oleg. The state of the director is much better than the other prisoners. After all, he’s not tortured or humiliated, letters are coming to him. That’s why we must continue to talk, write, film – to help as much as we can.
Film producer Anna Palenchuk admitted that thanks to Oleg Sentsov she had found many close friends. Even though the majority of them is not present in the attached photo, there are people who are already family, like-minded persons, together with whom the struggle is going on. “Humanity. Courage. Faith.” – are three words that today appear as an association to these hundred days.
Culturologist and Ukrainianist Radko Mokryk noted that the Czech Association of Cinematographers today announced a chain hunger strike in solidarity with Oleg. Each participant will starve for 5 days.
Deputy Chief Editor of the Publishing House “VSL“ Kateryna Mihalitsyna gave an excerpt from one of Sentsov’s texts, where he’s thinking about childhood. “Let it be, the childhood passed, but I will jump on one leg“, – writes Oleg.
Tatiana Vlasova, a singer, and journalist posed a rather unexpected and at the same time a simple question: what can you do in one hundred days? For example, you can have a cool summer, take some intensive training, start learning a new language, organize an interesting project, etc. Also, you can challenge the whole regime, to make the whole world know your story. In the end, to risk your life, because it’s your only remaining weapon. That’s how much you can do in one hundred days.
Boris Khersonsky, a writer, interpreter, psychologist, and psychiatrist admitted that he thinks about Oleg every morning, and at the same time he puts another penny with Russian coat of arms to the purse of hatred. After all, doctors understand that it’s impossible to starve for 100 days and stay alive. That means that Oleg’s life is supported by “compulsory measures of a medical nature”. That is, what is usually considered as a torture. We won’t be able to say “stop doing this“. We repeat our appeal to Putin demanding the release of Sentsov. However, according to Khersonskiy, with the same success, you can appeal to the monument.
Reactions were collected by Stepan the Goat
