EU
Statement by Parliament President Sassoli on Sakharov Prize winner #OlegSentsov release
After the release of Oleg Sentsov, 2018 Sakharov Prize Laureate, the European Parliament President David Sassoli said: "It is with relief and profound joy that I learnt today about the release of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. Sentsov received the European Parliament Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 2018. I salute him as a man of courage and determination, who resisted injustice with dignity and stood up for democracy, the rule of law and human rights."Sentsov was released as part of an agreement between Russia and Ukraine on an exchange of groups of prisoners. We welcome this as a step in the right direction and a sign of decreasing tensions between the two countries.
"I look forward to meeting Oleg Sentsov in person in the European Parliament soon and to be able to hand him the Sakharov Prize.”
Oleg Sentsov has been the most prominent Ukrainian political prisoner in Russia. In 2018, the imprisoned filmmaker went on a hunger strike for 145 days, demanding that Russia release all its Ukrainian political prisoners. In December 2018, the European Parliament awarded Sentsov the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which honours individuals and groups of people who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights. In several of its resolutions, the European Parliament has repeatedly insisted on the immediate release of Oleg Sentsov, the 24 Ukrainian servicemen illegally detained on 25 November 2018 in the Kerch Strait, as well as of all Ukrainian citizens detained as political prisoners by the Russian Federation.
Share this article:
EU Reporter publishes articles from a variety of outside sources which express a wide range of viewpoints. The positions taken in these articles are not necessarily those of EU Reporter. Please see EU Reporter’s full Terms and Conditions of publication for more information EU Reporter embraces artificial intelligence as a tool to enhance journalistic quality, efficiency, and accessibility, while maintaining strict human editorial oversight, ethical standards, and transparency in all AI-assisted content. Please see EU Reporter’s full A.I. Policy for more information.
ECR MEPs question the European Commission on cardiovascular health and diet promoting the Mediterranean diet as an alternative to ultra-processed foods as key to tackling obesity
Albania's Vlora airport standoff tests investor confidence as EU accession clock ticks
Iran’s regime in crisis: Negotiations, internal divisions and growing resistance
Commission approves €659 million German state aid for four new semiconductor facilities
Why a Brussels–Nicosia–Eastern Mediterranean strategic affairs platform would benefit the European Union
Kazakhstan seeks regional AI leadership as economic partnership with China enters new phase
EU law on nitrates pollution remains effective, with scope for smarter implementation
Starmer’s problem? 'He is not a politician'
The EU’s Forced-Labour Regulation Faces a Credibility Test
European Statistical Monitor: July edition
Commission publishes state aid guidance on carbon contracts for difference
Commission greenlights Estonia's fourth payment request for €135.5 million under NextGenerationEU
Drones, dominance, and the Iranian impasse: The West's strategic blind spot
Kazakhstan's fixed capital investment tops 9.5 trillion tenge in H1 2026
Commission registers two European Citizens' Initiatives on education and housing
Kazakhstan and Belgium: Building a Partnership for the Future
Kazakhstan reforms under scrutiny at Brussels Press Club round table
Japan should face up to history and contribute more to regional peace
Ambassador calls for 'speeding up' of co-operation between EU and Kazakhstan
Timur Turlov at Smart Moves Summit 2025: How chess can transform global education
Shevtsova’s case: Out-of-court sanctions dismantling trust in Ukrainian cause
The future of European transport
Trump Vs Trueman
US 'no longer' an 'unconditional ally' for Europe - MEP
-
Italy4 days agoECR MEPs question the European Commission on cardiovascular health and diet promoting the Mediterranean diet as an alternative to ultra-processed foods as key to tackling obesity
-
Albania4 days agoAlbania's Vlora airport standoff tests investor confidence as EU accession clock ticks
-
Iran5 days agoIran’s regime in crisis: Negotiations, internal divisions and growing resistance
-
Germany5 days agoCommission approves €659 million German state aid for four new semiconductor facilities