Oleg Sentsov

Oleg Sentsov is a public figure, film director, screenwriter, writer and prisoner of the Kremlin.

Born in 1976 in Simferopol. General director of the film company "Krai Kinema". During the Revolution of Dignity he was an Automaidan activist, and during the events in Crimea he helped Ukrainian servicemen by supplying them with food.

On May 11, 2014, in Crimea, Sentsov and four other Ukrainian activists were arrested by officers of the Russian occupation security forces. Russia's FSB accused Sentsov and the other detainees of preparing terrorist attacks in Crimea. Russian courts sentenced the Ukrainian patriots to various terms of imprisonment; Sentsov received the longest – 20 years in a penal colony.

On September 7, 2019, Oleg Sentsov, along with other political prisoners, was returned as part of a prisoner exchange with Russia.

While imprisoned, Oleg Sentsov was awarded the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought. After his release, on November 26, 2019, he received it at the European Parliament.