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Jailed Ukrainian filmmaker awarded Sakharov prize by European Parliament

During the event, a number of lawmakers were holding posters reading: "Free Oleg Sentsov"

Oleg Sentsov Valeriy Matytsin/TASS

Oleg Sentsov

© Valeriy Matytsin/TASS

PARIS, December 12. /TASS/. The European Parliament awarded the 2018 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought to Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, convicted of terrorism in Russia.

The annual awards ceremony was held at the European Parliament’s building in Strasbourg on Wednesday. Sentsov, who is currently serving his 20-year sentence in Russia, was represented by his cousin and his lawyer.

During the event, a number of lawmakers were holding posters reading: "Free Oleg Sentsov."

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Putin replies to appeal to free filmmaker jailed for terrorism, pointing to legal criteria

In late August 2015, Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov, best known for his 2011 film Gamer, was found guilty of terrorism in Russia. The North Caucasus District Military Court sentenced him to 20 years behind bars on charges of setting up a terrorist cell in Crimea and plotting terror attacks. In the spring of 2014, the group’s members carried out two terror attacks in Simferopol: they set on fire the offices of Crimea’s Russian Community non-governmental organization and a regional office of the United Russia party.

The European Parliament made a decision on granting the prize to Sentsov in late October.

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