USA urges Russia to release all Ukrainian political prisoners
The United States mission to the OSCE called on Russia to free Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov and other Ukrainian political prisoners who are illegally held in the Russian Federation, as reported in a statement released by Harry Kamien, the chargé d'affaires ad interim to the OSCE.
"Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov’s hunger strike enters its 31st day today. Russia transferred Mr. Sentsov from Crimea to Russia, and we call upon Russia to immediately release him and all other Ukrainian political prisoners, including three others who are also on hunger strike: Volodymyr Balukh, Oleksander Shumkov, and Stanislav Klykh," the statement notes.
The US mission to the OSCE notes that Russia’s conduct in Ukraine undermines the core principles and commitments of the OSCE, as well as collective security.
Sentsov, detained in the Crimea in 2014 and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment, has been on hunger strike since May 14. He demands the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners within the territory of the Russian Federation.