Oleg SENTSOV, 2018 laureate of the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought gives an interview, on the occasion of his venue in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Oleg SENTSOV is a Ukrainian filmmaker, who was released from prison on 7 September.

Strasbourg

interview

Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought 2018 (T)

SENTSOV, Oleg (UA)

Interview of Oleg SENTSOV, Sakharov Prize laureate 2018: extracts

Title: Interview of Oleg SENTSOV, Sakharov Prize laureate 2018: extracts (I-180721) 

SOUNDIBTE: (RUS): Oleg SENTSOV, 2018 Sakharov Prize Laureat,  I think any person would change in five years time span, bed in prison or build a free life. Well, I'm trying to continue working on myself.I tried to develop myself, first of all, spiritually. A jail was an interesting experience. Mostly it was a negative experience, but even when you are put in a negative situation, you may still find some time to develop yourself. If you are willing to do that. Some people break down in prison, but some people actually maintain their integrity and try to develop further. And that's what I've been trying to do.

SOUNDBITE (Russian), Oleg SENTSOV, 2018 Sakharov Prize laureat,  I'm not a politician. I don't dwell on politics. I'm just a citizen. So I do what I can. So when it comes to changing the situation in the country, it's actually not for me to do. I think it's something that we have to do together as a society. But our vector is very clear to move as close as possible to the European standards. And this is not just on the surface of life. We really need to embrace all the European values so that they become something our own. And I think where euro optimists now and we may feel more optimistic about Europe than many people in Europe, because some people have some problems, but we still are not there. That's why we would like to have the same problems that you have. And God forbid, you from having problems similar to what we are having now, an external aggression and internal corruption that is really eating away our society from within.