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| Russia jails Ukraine director Sentsov on terror charges | Russia jails Ukraine director Sentsov on terror charges |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A court in Russia has jailed Ukrainian film-maker Oleg Sentsov for 20 years for plotting terrorist acts in Crimea. | A court in Russia has jailed Ukrainian film-maker Oleg Sentsov for 20 years for plotting terrorist acts in Crimea. |
| Sentsov, 39, was arrested in May 2014 during a protest against Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula two months earlier. | |
| He denies the charges against him and his cause has been taken up by other directors, including Mike Leigh, Stephen Daldry and Pedro Almodovar. | He denies the charges against him and his cause has been taken up by other directors, including Mike Leigh, Stephen Daldry and Pedro Almodovar. |
| Russia denies claims that he is a political prisoner. | Russia denies claims that he is a political prisoner. |
| Another Crimea activist, Alexander Kolchenko, who was being tried with Sentsov and also denies the charges against him, was sentenced to 10 years. | |
| After the verdict was read out, both defendants sang the Ukrainian national anthem in the military court in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don. | |
| Allegations of torture | |
| Sentsov, best known for his 2011 film Gamer, was accused of setting up a terrorist group. Prosecutors say he was involved in two attempted arson attacks in the city of Simferopol, ordered by extremist Ukrainian group Right Sector. | |
| The Ukrainian government says he is being punished for being a Crimea-based pro-Ukrainian activist. | The Ukrainian government says he is being punished for being a Crimea-based pro-Ukrainian activist. |
| The director has rejected the authority of the court - one of two military courts in Russia - and has said he was beaten in jail for 24 hours in an attempt to force a confession. | |
| But investigators refused to open a case on his allegations of torture, suggesting that his bruises were self-inflicted and that he was keen on sado-masochism, his lawyer said. | |
| Petition | |
| Oleg Sentsov is one of a number of Ukrainian figures held by Russia. Military pilot Nadiya Savchenko is also facing trial in southern Russia, accused of killing two people. | |
| Both have been described by the US as Ukrainian hostages held by Russia. | Both have been described by the US as Ukrainian hostages held by Russia. |
| Last week Russia sentenced Estonian security official Eston Kohver to 15 years in prison for spying in a case that sparked a diplomatic row. | |
| The case against Sentsov is primarily based on evidence given by two men who have already been convicted and given seven-year jail terms. | |
| Human rights groups condemned the verdicts, and UK Europe Minister David Lidington said he was "deeply concerned" at the sentencing of Sentsov and Kolchenko. | |
| Meanwhile Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko wrote on Facebook: "Hang on in there, Oleg. Time will pass, and those who organised this kangaroo court will find themselves in the dock." | |
| A petition calling for Sentsov's release has been signed by top directors including European film-makers Mike Leigh, Ken Loach and Agnieszka Holland, and there has been a growing chorus of protest within the Russian film-making community. | |
| He has also attracted support from celebrated Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov, who has close ties to President Vladimir Putin and has openly backed Russia's annexation of Crimea. |