Relatives and lawyers representing Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov and other Ukrainian political prisoners have launched a public appeal, now open for endorsement, demanding a new strategy for putting pressure on Moscow and coordinating efforts. Much more is needed than mere statements of protest, as the number of prisoners in Russia and Russian-occupied Crimea mounts.
At a press briefing on Oct. 28, Natalya Kaplan, Oleg Sentsov’s cousin pointed out that Sentsov, Oleksandr Kolchenko and other prisoners have been held in Russian captivity for well over 2 years, and there is zero progress in securing their release. Her call for greater action was seconded by Petro Vyhivsky, whose son Valentin, was effectively abducted, held incommunicado and tortured and is now serving an 11-year sentence for unidentified ‘spying’. Petro Vyhivsky stressed that they all understand that negotiations must be held behind closed doors, but the relatives of the prisoners need to be confident that something is happening.
