"Oleg has creative energy"

In Rostov-on-Don, the verdict Oleg Sentsov and Alexander Kolchenko must be sentenced

In the North Caucasus Military District Court in Rostov-on Don, on August 25, it is expected to be sentenced to Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov and Antifashist activist Alexander Kolchenko. The Crimeans who insist that they remain Ukrainians accuse the creation of a cell of the Right Sector prohibited in Russia, arson of the offices of the Russian community of Crimea and the United Russia party in Simferopol, as well as in the preparation of the explosion of the monument to Lenin. The state prosecutor asked the court to appoint Oleg Sentsov a punishment in the form of 23 years in a colony of maximum security colony with restriction of freedom for two years. For Alexander Kolchenko, the prosecutor asked 12 years in prison with restriction of freedom for one year and six months.

One of the aggravating circumstances in the case considers the participation of Sentsov in the activities of the Avtomaydan movement. This movement consisted of motorists who were united to hold stocks in support of Euromaidan participants. Among the main tasks of "Avtomaydan" were patrolling the streets, transportation of victims and everything necessary. The Avtomaydana office was located in the Ukrainian House. It was there, according to the testimonies of the participants and managers of the movement, that Oleg Sentsov, who organized the work of the office and practically did not participate in street actions, was almost constantly.

The accusation is built on the testimony of two witnesses - Alexei Chirniy and Gennady Afanasyev. Chirniy was in the development of the FSB and was arrested when he tried to pick up the fiber bomb made by the FSB operatives. Chirniy began to assert about the connection with Sentsov after he agreed to a deal with the investigation. The lawyer Ilya Novikov claims that Chirny was subjected to physical impact by investigators. Gennady Afanasyev also concluded an agreement with the investigation, but during the court he stated that he refused previous testimonies, and Sentsova pronounced torture in the building of the Simferopol FSB.

The last word of Oleg Sentsov in court. August 19, 2015

Oleg had creative energy, not destructive

Radio correspondent Freedom talked with those who were somehow connected with Sentsov and Kolchenko, but could not act in court as a witness of defense, fearing for his security in case of arrival in Russia.

Alexey Gritsenko, activist and founder of the Avtomaydan movement. Kyiv

- When the events began in the Crimea, I told Oleg: "When you yourself will leave, until they took you for anything?" But he said that he would remain and help to export the military and their family. He then worked with Anya Sandalova. They did just that our military could leave the Crimea. It was difficult to communicate with the military in Ukraine, because they did not do it at all, it all lay on the shoulders of people like Oleg, Anya, and other guys. And this was what he did when the information came that he was taken. He never picked up a weapon.

Oleg went to Crimea, when all the bloody events had already occurred in Kyiv, there was already, in general, nothing. He went to the children, we maintained contact with him. He told what was happening in the Crimea, and, including because of his stories, we decided to go there and help our military units.

Unlike many others, Oleg had creative energy, not destructive. He organized everyone in the office, in fact, took on the task of organizing his work. Everyone knew that he was doing this, and he did it well. During the revolution, many people from introverts turned into extroverts. Many could not think that they would be on duty at night.

Natalya Lukyanenko, activist "Avtomaydana". Kyiv

- After the first attacks of the “Berkutovites” on activists of Avtomaydan, after the first broken cars, we had to establish a summons home in the Ukrainian house, where I first met Oleg. At that time, it seemed to me that this is the most calm person of us all. Because he was assembled, he collected us all, reassured us. He was responsible for the headquarters, from the office, ending with planning, discussion of shares. He organized us all in time, he had everything clearly and harmoniously. And I don’t even know when he left the headquarters, because he was there all the time, spent the night on the steps. If you needed some information on the events, then you could call Oleg and he was in the know.

"A little more," as you said ... scary

Oleg left for Crimea immediately when we entered the Mezhigorye ( the residence of the former president of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. - RS ). We understood that something was beginning to happen in Crimea. We arrived to understand: what can we support the military, what help is a volunteer humanitarian. There were a lot of cars with Russian flags in Sevastopol, but local numbers. There was such a drive, people began to get high from what was happening, not understanding to the end of what would happen next. But no one assumed that everything would come to this.

Oleg initially, when he arrived, tried to understand what was happening and where the events could get. Then he began to engage in the removal of the military and families. I remember clearly how Oleg said that there was no resources. At first, when he returned to the Crimea, we even gave him some money for a living, because he did not have it at all.

Every time you raise the topic of this criminal case within yourself, you think: "Well, you have to insist and take Oleg. Well, why do you need this" still a little ", as you said ...". Scary. After all this, I cannot restore in time, which was when it was. Everything was mixed. After captivity with memory, it became completely sad, I forget even some simple things. When I returned, I generally forgot the way home. On the other hand, when you forget the bad, it pleases. I thought about Oleg, about the guys when they beat or shoot ... I remember myself captive when I did not cry at all. Apparently, the body understands that it is necessary to save life at all costs, all forces are concentrated. I hope that the guys have the same.

Anna Sandalova, Head of the Board of the Charitable Fund "Support the Army of Ukraine". Kyiv

- We were not familiar with Oleg Sentsov during the Euromaidan, but met in early March, when the story began with the blocking of military units in the Crimea. He was there, and the Autamaidan, a group of volunteers who helped these military units hold out, because there were problems with products, with medicines. All March and April Oleg and I worked on the phone, organizing the departure of the Ukrainian military and their families to the mainland. The Ministry of Defense could not elementarily organize buses and freight transportation. Oleg went to those parts about which it was already decided that they would be left, and on the phone we agreed with him, how many buses were needed. I was doing the fact that I was collecting funds, then they ordered buses, Oleg loaded them there, attached a truck with furniture and things and took them out of there. Hoiled the buses, loaded. Somewhere the elderly helped to export or, for example, the body of an officer who was killed, exported. Therefore, we worked for two months on people's transportation issues, they set up cars for someone, school students were taken out on a separate schedule. We took out not armed people, not weapons, not something incomprehensible, but these were peaceful people, the bodies of the dead.

Oleg and I spoke days two before his detention. He called and, as usual, said that he was needed either a truck for furniture, or something like that. I said: "Oleg, people will not understand me. When people can be taken out, it was still possible to accumulate the means, and the furniture ... Come on, let them themselves somehow." I asked him when he was already in Kyiv, although during these two months they woke each other in the middle of the night often by phone, but there was no coffee together. He did not feel any danger, as far as I could judge from Kyiv. After the detention, the guys from the "Avtomaydan" already called and dumbfounded. Honestly, the first thought was that he was detained for help in the export of the military. But when the information went and we recognized the accusations ... This is complete nonsense from beginning to end.

Olga Skripnik, Deputy Head of the Crimean Field Mission to Human Rights. Crimea

- We must understand that Oleg Sentsov and Sasha Kolchenko, perhaps, were familiar with each other, but it cannot be said that they are from one party. Sasha Kolchenko is the movement of "left", ecologists. Many of them were forced to leave, as they also became defendants in criminal cases in the Crimea, and the FSB officers came to the parents of one of them in the Sentsov-Kolchenko case. Afanasyev and Chirny for me generally unknown people, there are many questions from where they even came there.

In March, the guys from Avtomaydan came to the Crimea, even pursued, they shot at the wheels of the car. But I met them after my move to Kyiv, when I found out about the detention of Sentsov and Kolchenko. We began to look for lawyers, and for this Oleg’s relatives, so we ourselves went to the “Avtomaydan”, who himself stated that Sentsov was them. And we were engaged in the evacuation of the military and their families from the unit until March 15, when the assault occurred. But the majority left earlier, because many were from the Lviv region.

After the appearance of the Sentsov case, we were afraid that they would take up the Karman art center. A creative team gathered there, which, of course, knew Sentsova. Both them and Galina Dzhikaeva ( the head of the Karman art center, where pro-Ukrainian activists gathered, including Oleg Sentsov.-RS ) were called for interrogation. They even called those who were not familiar with Sentsov. Separately called for interrogations in the case of Kolchenko. The guys who were with him on environmental actions, anarchists, who were somehow familiar with each other, "pierced", called to the FSB. If they were not, since many of them left, expecting them to be pursued, like Sasha Kolchenko, they called their parents.

The selective application of extremist legislation in Crimea does not guarantee any safety, anyone can be subjected to repression. This practice allows anyone to attract to some business. Suddenly, some scrons of the "Right Sector" appeared, which supposedly began to find the FSB. The situation is pumped up by the threat of extremism, terrorism. Moreover, in the Crimea there are a number of such precedent cases in which anyone can come to, for example, "February 26 case." In fact, any person who was in Simferopol at that time can be involved in him.

Valentina Kiseleva, activist. Crimea

The main witness of the prosecution against Sentsov and Kolchenko was Gennady Afanasyev, who, however, refused the initial indications and stated that they were given under physical pressure. Afanasyev took part in the meetings of pro -Ukrainian activists along with Sentsov, was arrested and sentenced to 7 years in prison. Activist Valentina Kiseleva, forced to leave Crimea, together with Afanasyev’s friends, is now organizing an information campaign in his support.

- We met Gena at the first pro -Ukrainian rally. Then we met Oleg Sentsov. It was in February, during the Euromaidan. Until January 2014, Gene was radically against Euromaidan. I remember how he once, when we were sitting in a cafe, said that he did not support European integration. Then he went to Kyiv, looked at everything with his own eyes and changed his position.

"Right Sector" is complete nonsense, this topic did not rise and never sounded in Crimea

Gene with Oleg also met, like all of us. They were not previously connected. Oleg came, said that he was an activist from Avtomaydan, that he did not like what was happening in the Crimea, and we agreed to meet in the Fregat cafe. Activists, young people gathered there. Then no one was really familiar with each other, with his arrival, somehow everyone was consistent. With me, Oleg never sounded about any undermining, about terrorist acts.

I was already in Kyiv when I found out about the detention of genes. Rumors began that he was gone. Before the detention, he arrived in Kyiv. And then I already called, his phone was disconnected. I contacted his mother, they did not know what and why. The district police officer came to me at the address of residence permit in Crimea, and then the FSB officers came to relatives. They said they did not communicate with me. They were asked to confirm this in writing and left. And then I find my name in the so -called Poklonskaya List on the Crimea. Reali website, whom she intends to pursue for participation in the Euromaidan.

Gennady was taken because he talked with Sentsov. And Oleg - because he was the most active. And Kolchenko I don't know why.

Alexander Aronov (name changed), activist and journalist. Crimea

- The main support of Sentsov and Kolchenko after the arrest was organized by the Committee of Solidarity and the support of the Crimean hostages - a number of activists and human rights activists, including those who fled from Crimea.

As soon as the first information was received about the arrest of Sentsov in May 2014, I remember how we took a piece of paper, divided into four parts: Sentsov, Kolchenko, Afanasyev and Chirny.

For people who abducted Sentsov and Kolchenko, who tortured them, it is necessary to close access to the EU and arrest accounts

Sentsov had a large column with information about who he was and what was known about him, but no one knew anything about Chirnia, up to the point that we even doubted - there is such a person or not. Only when they saw him on the "first channel", it became clear. So the group was created, everyone exchanged contacts. In the first three months they still met, some promotions planned, and then the second wind opened in the fall. Now the Crimean hostage support committee is representatives of a number of human rights initiatives, there are those who are involved in refugees missing people. We periodically gather, set tasks.

Our main task now is the collection of funds, information work and pressure on the Ukrainian authorities, from which we want them to investigate the abductions. Evgenia Zakrevskaya’s lawyer leads this case, it practically does not move. We set ourselves a priority task - to force the investigation and the Foreign Ministry to work. We even picketed the Foreign Ministry to dip it for some actions, but now he once began to work on Sentsov and Kolchenko, the most important thing that they agreed with European consuls so that they were attended by court hearings. It is important for us that a sanctions list appears. For people who abducted Sentsov and Kolchenko, who tortured them, it is necessary to close access to the EU and arrest accounts. It is necessary that this be done, including with respect to a number of witnesses of the prosecution. It is clear that this can not particularly help the matter, but some pressure levers.

Our group on Facebook is called "freedom of the political prisoners of Crimea", because at the time of the creation there were only four, and now there are so many of them, this is such a large target for special services. The persecution of those who remained in the Crimea from the Sentsov’s case, of course, could be. But, to be honest, the special services have someone to choose from. Sooner or later they will take everyone.

Galina Dzhikaeva, actress, head of the art center "Pocket". Crimea

The meetings of pro-Ukrainian youth, in which Oleg Sentsov took part, took place in the Karman art center, where medical assistance courses were organized, flags and Ukrainian symbols for rallies were stored. It was these meetings that the prosecution considered the evidence of the creation of the Sentsov organized group.

The Right Sector is complete nonsense, this topic did not rise and never sounded in Crimea. The only thing was the group in VKontakte “Right Sector of Crimea”, into which administrators without permission placed the phones of some of our activists, who were responsible for the help of the military, for medical courses. That is, it was written-"Turn to such and such." And it was very "dumb", because as soon as the numbers appeared in the group, threats began and these people immediately left.

It is clear that this is a totalitarian regime, and, of course, there was fear. But that it would be terrorism, we did not wait

I have many questions about this case. Why Oleg? Sasha, for example, had much more “track record” activity. And Gene, to be honest, is a young fool. He rushed with an e -chief. Why was it ...

One of the artists of Karman went into the ranks of Self -Defense. And, since a lot was tied on it, the work got up. Then, however, he was disappointed and came, apologized. The actors came and saw that we were collecting medicines, but we were not at the courses, they refused to participate in rallies. The FSB officer told me that there is a record in the case, that the artists of Karman came to medical courses with Oleg Sentsov, but this is not true.

We learned about the detention of the guys in a few days. First, about the gene - disappeared and disappeared, and then there is a detention. A few days later - Oleg. And then they saw the Kiselev program ( Dmitry Kiselev, the host of VGTRK. - RS ), where Sentsov was shown, and I realized that this was seriously and for a long time. We did not feel anything criminal for ourselves. It is clear that this is a totalitarian regime, and, of course, there was fear. But that it would be terrorism, we did not wait. When I heard this and realized that it was serious, I gathered a backpack, so that the camera was all the first necessary. They came to me from the FSB, brought the papers for signature. Я сначала отказывалась, потом мне сказали: "Ну напишите тогда, что здесь происходило".

Александра Дворецкая, активистка. Crimea

Александр Кольченко являлся достаточно известным в Симферополе активистом движения антифа. Он участвовал в экологических акциях, организовывал кинопоказ памяти Маркелова и Бабуровой, неоднократно подвергался нападениям со стороны националистов. Это не помешало следствию обвинить его в членстве в "Правом секторе" и "принятии идеологии праворадикального движения".

"Кафка – каш герой, тут больше ничего не скажешь"

Когда появились первые обвинения в том, что Саша Кольченко в "Правом секторе" и фашист – это было просто смешно, потому что, сколько я его помню, а это лет семь, он был в антифа. Сначала мы очень специфически общались: они боялись меня, потому что в школьном возрасте я тусовалась с футбольными фанатами, а в институте появилась другая компания, которая занималась киноклубами. "Тундра" ( кличка Александра Кольченко. – РС ) и "Енот" – это была неразлучная пара, которая долго ко мне относилась очень настороженно.

Я понимаю, что во время Майдана стирались некоторые границы: с кем ты можешь стоять рядом. Но что касается Саши, то мы много с ним говорили о таких вещах, например о том, насколько уместно использовать в протестах украинский флаг. Даже по этому вопросу возникала дискуссия. Олега я мало знала, мы познакомились в конце февраля, с начала оккупации Крыма. На Майдане я общалась с другими людьми, больше с теми, кто пострадал, потому что я дежурила в больнице, и с теми, кто к ним приезжал. Так же и Гену я узнала на общих сборах с началом оккупации.

Я была в баре "Фрегат", была в "Кармане" даже одним из соучредителей, поэтому это так странно, когда ты читаешь обвинительное заключение – а это половина твоей жизни. Ты знаешь каждого человека, кто он и какой. И я понимаю, что в этой ситуации мог оказаться кто угодно, и я в том числе. А оказались те, кто не уезжал, такие как Олег, как Саша. А мы испугались и уехали. Наверное, правильно сделали.

Я ухала из Крыма еще до референдума, и мы потом виделись с Олегом. Он приезжал, потому что тут мы собирали деньги для вывоза украинских военных и их семей. Он не уезжал, потому что не было ощущения, что он делает что-то противозаконное. "Что мне бояться, если я ничего плохого не делаю", – это такое ощущение безопасности, когда ты знаешь свою правоту. Но сейчас в Крыму никто не застрахован, что у тебя дома могут "найти" взрывчатые вещества и "воду желтого цвета в бутылке из-под воды "Моршанская". Это какие-то глупости, но это может случиться с каждым. Как Саша Кольченко превратился из антифашиста в фашиста, так и любой человек может превратиться из мирного в террориста. Поэтому это страшно. Сенцов и Кольченко оставались, потому что думали, что есть границы беспределу. Оказалось, что нет.

Но я очень надеюсь, что если осудят Сашу и Олега и они станут менее важными, можно будет вести речь об обмене. Очень хочется, чтобы было это, очень хочется, чтобы ребята еще успели принять участие в том, что здесь происходит, и помочь нам всем. У них слишком много энергии.

"Главное мое ощущение от процесса таково: Кафка – каш герой, тут больше ничего не скажешь", – говорит двоюродная сестра Олега Сенцова московский журналист Наталья Каплан :

​– Обвинение не смогло представить ни одного доказательства вины обвиняемых, ничего. Все их доводы были, по-моему, в пух и прах разбиты защитой. И 23 года тюрьмы запросить ни за что – это верх цинизма. Адвокаты говорят, что за всю свою практику такого циничного процесса никогда не видели. Фээсбэшники чувствуют свою полную безнаказанность, они даже не беспокоятся о доказательствах... Я думаю, что этот процесс положит начало очень серьезным репрессиям в России. Сейчас эти репрессии – вегетарианские, но если по делу Сенцова пошли на такие сроки ни за что, то дальше будет хуже.

– Вы считаете, что надежды никакой нет на то, что приговор может быть оправдательным?

Особой волны сочувствия к Олегу я не жду – российские мозги неизменимы

– Надежда умирает последней, это такая живучая штуковина. Но если смотреть объективно, то вряд ли мы добьемся чего-то хорошего в этом процессе. Дальше мы подадим апелляцию в Верховный суд. Может быть, Олега обменяют на какого-то другого заключенного, если, конечно, в Украине есть, на кого менять. Такой вариант мы тоже рассматриваем. Может быть, мы добьемся, чтобы отбывать наказание Олега отправили в Украину.

– Украинская сторона оказывает какую-то поддержку обвиняемым?

– Консул Украины постоянно присутствует на заседаниях, финансово они помогают. И у Олега, и у Саши Кольченко есть киевские адвокаты. В Украине возбуждено дело по их похищению; там они, естественно, проходят как потерпевшие.

– Что-то удивило вас в ходе этого процесса – может быть, поведение судьи, прокурора, журналистов, которые освещали этот суд?

– Ничего не было такого особенного, кроме наглости стороны обвинения, но мы уже к ней привыкли. Все-таки мы надеялись, что срок они запросят поменьше, хотя бы под 20 лет. В Ростове этот процесс не вызвал большого интереса, в зале присутствовала пара активистов. Да еще и город такой... "патриотический". Начальник охраны гостиницы, в которой мы жили, вызвал полицию, потому что ему показалось, что адвокат Светлана Сидоркина выкрикивает экстремистские лозунги. Приехала полиция, такое шоу устроили... Адвоката Самохина в аэропорту досматривали так, что ему носки пришлось снимать. В общем, по-мелкому гадят они, конечно... Но иного я и не ожидала, я уже год с этим живу. Поэтому особой волны сочувствия к Олегу я не жду – российские мозги неизменимы...

• 

  Anton Naumluk

  Foreign Correspondent RS

• 

  Andrey Shary

  I.O. Regional Director of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty for Russian -Sound Content

  Andrey Shary on Facebook

  Sharya@rferl.org