Ahead of the meeting of G7 leaders in Canada on 8 and 9 June 2018, PEN calls for greater pressure to be put on the Russian authorities to release Oleg Sentsov. English PEN has today written to Prime Minister Theresa May urging her and fellow G7 leaders to raise his case at the earliest opportunity.

The full text of the letter follows:

7 June 2018

Dear Prime Minister

I am writing on behalf of English PEN, the founding centre of the world association of writers dedicated to promoting literature and defending freedom of expression.

The upcoming G7 Leaders’ Summit is an important opportunity to advance the commitment of G7 countries to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms. In this regard, we are writing to ask you to intervene directly with the Russian authorities in the case of prominent Ukrainian writer and filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, currently on hunger strike.

Oleg Sentsov was arrested in Crimea by the Russian security services in May 2014 and reported being subjected to a brutal three-hour ordeal involving beatings, suffocation and threats of sexual assault. He was taken to Russia where he spent over a year in pre-trial detention. In August 2015, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison on spurious terrorism charges after a grossly unfair trial by a Russian military court, marred by allegations of torture. He was denied a request for extradition to Ukraine on the grounds that he had become a Russian citizen following Russia’s occupation and ‘annexation’ of Crimea. PEN fears that Oleg Sentsov was imprisoned for his opposition to Russia’s occupation and illegal ‘annexation’ of Crimea and calls on the Russian authorities to release him immediately.

On 14 May 2018, Oleg Sentsov declared an ‘indefinite hunger strike’, stating that ‘the sole condition for its cessation is the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners located in the territory of the Russian Federation’. He reportedly told his lawyer that he was prepared to die should his demand be ignored.

Sir Tom Stoppard CBE, Honorary Vice President of English PEN, has said:

The so-called charge of ‘terrorism’ against Oleg Sentsov , and his sentencing of 20 years in prison, followed by his hunger strike, which continues, together are one more tragic instance where the real nature of rule in the Russian Federation breaks the surface. The regime would like brave men – and women – like Sentsov to be quickly forgotten. It is important that we don’t let that happen.

We believe that your actions in support of Oleg Sentsov could play a crucial role in securing his release. In light of his ongoing hunger strike, we are respectfully urging you and all G7 Leaders to raise his case with the Russian authorities at the earliest opportunity.

Should you require any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Yours sincerely

Antonia Byatt
Director, English PEN