"Silence and cowardice is sin"

Film director Agneshka Holland told how European colleagues help Oleg Sentsov

The European Film Academy, uniting the leading filmmakers of Europe, will continue to provide legal and moral support to the Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov convicted in Russia. This was in an interview with the Ukrainian edition of Radio Liberty by the head of the film academy, Polish director Agnieshka Holland. According to her, European filmmakers constantly remind the public about the fate of Sentsov and put pressure on politicians in Europe - so that they help to obtain from the Russian authorities to change the fate of the convicted director. Oleg Sentsov was sentenced by a court in Rostov-on-Don at the end of August to 20 years in prison-on charges of organizing arson and terrorist attacks of Crimea annexed by Russia. Civil activist Alexander Kolchenko, accused with Sentsov, received 10 years in prison.

Agnieshka Holland talks about how and why she and her colleagues are fighting for the liberation of Oleg Sentsov.

We decided, so to speak, to adopt him

- We, as the organization of filmmakers, participated in shares in support of our other colleagues who were persecuted by authoritarian regimes. First of all, this concerned Iranians and Palestinians. We also participated in the defense of our colleagues from Turkey. So this is not the first time we are trying to protect a colleague, whose case causes many doubts. During the consideration of the Sentsov case, it became clear, not only to us, but also to some of our Russian colleagues that it was pierced by white threads, and our young colleague Oleg Sentsov became a scapegoat in a case that has nothing to do with it. What happened to him is a big drama. Therefore, we decided, so to speak, to adopt it.

- Why, it seems to you, the Ukrainian director became the victim of the authoritarian system in Russia?

“I think there are several reasons.” First of all, the fact is that he supported the Maidan and those people who resisted the annexation of Crimea. In Crimea in his midst, he was a fairly popular person, with a wide circle of acquaintances. Therefore, his arrest and conclusion caused a great resonance and could cause fear among those people who, say, of some military or special services agent, would not make much impression. Oleg is not Nadezhda Savchenko , not an employee of the Estonian special services ( Eston Kokhver , convicted of 15 years in Pskov. - RS ) , this is a young artist who is not indifferent to the fate of his country and has the courage to openly express his views. Since the system punishes such a person, it means that everyone should be afraid. I think this is the signal that the Russian authorities send not only Crimea, but also Russia itself. Sentsov’s sentence is inadequate and absurd.

- Sentsov’s case had a great international resonance, there were many appeals for the Russian authorities with a request to free the Ukrainian director. Have you expected such a sentence for him?

Sentsov’s sentence is inadequate and absurd

- We were in touch with his lawyers, and they had long talked about what the verdict could be. The whole process was held on facts sucked from a finger, or confessions obtained using torture. So the Russian authorities had two opportunities: stubbornly insist on his own or free Sentsov. In fact, there are no grounds for imprisonment. But if a person is abducted from home, then they are accused of terrorism, at the same time starting a complex procedure, the purpose of which is to knock out guilt from Sentsov and other accused, then this process is stretched for a year, transfer it to Rostov-on-Don-all this is clearly done to recognize their mistake or send it to bars for a short time. Moreover, for seven years, two those who could not withstand bullying and testified against Sentsov received. Therefore, Sentsov and Kolchenko, who did not specify either themselves or the Ukrainian authorities, punished much more severe. I hope that this sentence will not be made, that Sentsov will somehow be able to free. And we will do everything to ensure this.

- What exactly?

- The experience of the Cold War shows that the liberal, free world is powerless before rough power. But this defenselessness is not equivalent to hopelessness. If you put pressure constantly, then at the moment when Putin needs some kind of "bargaining coin", he uses a hostage that he holds in imprisonment. So it was in the case of Pussy Riot or Khodorkovsky. I hope that the fate of Oleg Sentsov is also not completely resolved, and sooner or later he will be free. And we will do everything possible so that world public opinion remembers him and his comrade. We will try to influence leading European politicians so that they seek the liberation of Sentsov through their channels. This is what you can do. I’m not talking about how for Oleg in the terrible situation in which he ended up, it is important that he is not the only one that his colleagues remember him, including very famous ones. This is great support.

- Sentsov knows about the support that European filmmakers provide to him?

- This information reached him. We contacted his lawyers, expressed support through his sister, who saw him several times. In addition, we wrote to him. Of course, these letters took place in prison censorship, but still he received some part of them.

- After the sentencing to Oleg Sentsov, only a few people took part in the protest in Russia. In this situation, do you hope for the solidarity of Russian colleagues with Sentsov?

It's hard to demand from them - quit everything and become heroes

“They have already shown such solidarity.” In a situation where the authorities, without hesitation, are sent to prison for 20 years of an innocent person, even a timid criticism of such authorities can become a reason for repression. We understand that our Russian colleagues, expressing protest, risk being without work. It is difficult to demand from them - throw everything and become heroes. The greater impression on me was made by the report that many famous figures of Russian cinema - both from the Kino -Union and individual people, such as Andrei Zvyagintsev or Alexander Sokurov, made rather sharp statements about the court on Sentsov. This is all that these people can do at the moment, it is difficult to expect some large demonstrations at the time when the Russian democratic opposition is actually broken. Bold people were on top - for example, the Russian "memorial". Yes, and many ordinary people signed petitions in support of Sentsov, their act also needs to be respected and grateful for him.

- Do you know examples from recent history, when international shares of solidarity with prisoners of authoritarian regimes were successful?

- During the Cold War, there were many such examples. Then the authoritarian communist regimes was constant pressure, and often it ended in success. Many Russian dissidents, due to this, were freed from psychiatric medical workers or maximum security camps, and got the opportunity to go to the West. Or at least they were transferred to places of imprisonment with a less severe regime. If you do nothing, then a person can simply be quietly killed somewhere in the corner. Will there be a quick success in this case? I doubt it, but I hope that this success will come over time.

- What influence Sentsov had the Cinematographers themselves?

-In my opinion, many Russian colleagues were on top. Especially when you consider how these people in Russia depend on the state, on its structures. What will happen next? Don't know. So far, we started raising funds among European filmmakers - in order to compensate Sentsov with the expenses associated with the provision of legal assistance, as well as to help his family. Let's not forget, he is the father of two children, one of whom is sick, and he brought them up alone, and now this duty fell on the shoulders of his relatives.

In the context of this case, silence and cowardice is really a sin

- Did you manage to get acquainted with the last word Sentsov in court?

- Yes, I read it. I think this performance made a great impression on our Russian colleagues. It motivated them to speak out about this matter. Sentsov there referred to the text of Bulgakov, written in the "Black Times" of Russian history, in the era of Stalinism. He said that cowardice is the worst sin. In the context of this matter, silence and cowardice is really a sin. And the reaction to evil can become the pebble that at the appropriate moment will drive an avalanche.