The Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET), the Subcommittee on Human Rights (DROI) and the Committee on Development (DEVE) hold an exchange of views with Oleg SENTSOV, 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, in the EUropean Parliament in Strasbourg. Oleg Sentsov is a Ukrainian film director who had been sentenced to 20 years in prison for "plotting terrorist acts" against the Russian "de facto" rule in Crimea. After spending more than five years behind bars, he was released from prison in September this year as part of a major prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine. Statements by Tomas TOBÉ (EPP, SE), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE) and Oleg SENTSOV, 2018 Sakharov Prize Laureate.

Exchange of views with Oleg SENTSOV, 2018 Sakharov Prize laureate: extracts of AFET/DEVE/DROI committees joint meeting

Title: Exchange of views with Oleg SENTSOV, 2018 Sakharov Prize laureate: extracts of AFET/DEVE/DROI committees joint meeting (I-180728) 

Arrival of Oleg Sentsov, 2018 Sakharov Prize laureate, (1 shot)

SOUNDBITE (English), Tomas TOB&#201; (EPP, SE), Being detained in the far north of Russia on a politically motivated judgment. You were not able to receive your Sakhraov prize in due time. The fact that you are now present with us here in Strasbourg this evening is a source of great satisfaction to us.

SOUNDBITE (English), David McALLISTER (EPP, DE), The European Parliament the 14 June 2018 adopted a resolution insisting on the immediate and unconditional release of you and all other illegally detained Ukrainian citizens in Russia. Many Human rights groups and personalities called for your release, including film celebrities and Russian filmmakers also appealed to the Russian president. Finally, you were released from jail and returned to Ukraine on the 7th of September. You were moved from your prison to Moscow a few days earlier. Your release was part of an agreement between Moscow and Kiev on the exchange of 35 prisoners from each side. The prisoner swap was welcomed by the International community and was widely covered by the world media. We in the European Parliament across party lines expressed relief and joy at the news of your release. We salute you as a courageous man who has resisted injustice with dignity

SOUNDBITE (Russian), Oleg SENTSOV, 2018 Sakharov Prize Laureate , This is not a conflict between two people. It's the conflict between the two principles, between the two worldviews. Those who want to be stuck in the past, those who are willing to be slaves and enslaved and live in lies. And the second part is represented by those who wanted to stick to the truth, who wants to live in a free country, who is vying to enter the Europe of future. And the Ukrainian people, including myself, as well as many other Russian speaking Ukrainians, we are all aspiring for that. We are a unique and unified nation. We are fighting off an aggression. We really want to build our country in accordance with European principles. And I'm really grateful to you all for your support to our country in this struggle.

SOUNDBITE (Russian), Oleg SENTSOV, 2018 Sakharov Prize Laureate , When I've been when I was released, it's not a happy ending because around a hundred political prisoners are still being kept in Russia. Most of them are Crimeans, Tatars and there are 200 military personnel, women and even underage children that are still in prisons in Lugansk and the Donbas area and in Donetsk, because they are allegedly separatists. And neither our organizations or your organizations have no access to them. So no one knows what is actually happening to them in what conditions they are being kept. When it comes to their health, we do not know about it either. We don't even know the exact number of those people who are being kept there. But still they've been kept there for many a year. And I will always bring their issue up when I'm given the floor. And I will always urge you all not to forget about them, because there are a lot of them. Please do not forget about them. And please do for them what you've done for me. Long live Ukraine

Exchange of views with Oleg SENTSOV, 2018 Sakharov Prize laureate: extracts of AFET/DEVE/DROI committees joint meeting

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DEVE - Committee on Development

DROI Subcommittee on Human Rights

AFET - Committee on Foreign Affairs

Oleg SENTSOV, Sakharov Prize 2018