Yamal: The priest was not allowed to Oleg Sentsov

The head of the Federal Penitentiary Service for the Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug refused to the bishop of the Apostolic Orthodox Church in a meeting with the prisoner Oleg Sentsov.

According to Father Grigory (Mikhnov-Vyatenko), Colonel Novikov met him extremely kindly-until he found out which prisoners would like to meet with. After that, Novikov changed his face and stated that he did not see the appropriateness in the meeting of Father Gregory with Sentsov. The bishop noted that his "attempts to appeal to the law, mind, conscience and mercy have not led to anything."

According to the current Criminal Executive Code, "clergymen belonging to religious associations registered in the prescribed manner are invited to the convicts at their request, at the choice of convicts. Personal meetings are provided without limiting their number for up to two hours each."

On May 14, Sentsov announced a hunger strike with the demand to release from Russian prisons all Ukrainian political prisoners, which was holding the 79th day. Sentsov has repeatedly stated that he would hold it "to the end." According to human rights activists, in Russia, for political reasons, 64 Ukrainian is serving.

The Ukrainian director was convicted in Russia on charges of preparing terrorist attacks of Crimea annexed by Russia. Sentsov does not admit his guilt. Lawyers and human rights activists call the case as fabricated and claim that the employees of the FSB of Russia achieved testimonies against Sentsov torture.