Winnipeg's Ukrainian community rallies for jailed director

A high-profile political prisoner case out of Russia is drawing worldwide attention and drew dozens of Winnipeggers to the steps of the legislature Monday night to protest.

Last week, a Russian court found Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov guilty of conspiracy to carry out terrorist attacks. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but critics say the charges are politically motivated. The 39-year-old native of Crimea strongly opposed Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea.

“It's a farce. It's an absolute farce. For a young man like him to be sentenced to 20 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit is abuse,” said local film director John Paskiewicz.

Russian prosecutors said Sentsov and another man planned to blow up a monument to Lenin and were behind an attempt to burn down the offices of two Russian-linked organizations.

Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, and several European leaders opposed Sentsov's 20-year sentence.

Winnipeg's Ukrainian community is now calling on the federal government to join these voices and release Sentsov.

Artem Baranov took part in a protest in Winnipeg on Monday night and sharply criticized Russia's record on free speech.

“There is no simple freedom of speech in Russia,” Baranov said. “That's why we oppose it and support it here.”