The famous Ukrainian director and writer Oleg Sentsov found himself at the center of events when he was detained by Russian law enforcement officers in 2014. The court sentenced him to 20 years in prison for organizing and carrying out terrorist attacks on the territory of Crimea.
early years
Oleg Sentsov was born in 1976 in the Crimean capital. He graduated from high school and received further education at the branch of the Kiev University of Economics. After that, the creatively-minded young man went to Moscow to comprehend the basics of filmmaking at director's courses. Oleg became a co-owner of a computer club in Simferopol. This business project has long been his main source of income.
"Gamer" and "Rhino"
Observing the life of gamers prompted him to create a full-length film. The plot of the director's debut tape is based on the story of a young gamer who lives with his mother in Simferopol. Friends call the teenager Lesha "Cox". He devotes all his free time to computer games. Alexey became the best in many domestic tournaments and goes to Los Angeles for another victory. But he turns out to be only the second and, returning home, decides to end the addiction that deprived him of the feeling of the surrounding reality: he quarreled with his mother, forced him to leave school and the girl.
The tape was first presented at the Rotterdam Film Festival in 2012 and received positive reviews from film critics. The picture aroused great interest in numerous competitions, it was approved by film critics at the "Spirit of Fire" and won festivals in Odessa and Truskavets. It is noteworthy that after the recognition of the tape, Sentsov closed his establishment in Simferopol. The cost of creating the picture was only 20 thousand dollars, and the actors worked in it absolutely free.
In 2013, the screenwriter and director began work on the film "Rhino". The budget of the film was a figure with six zeros, almost half of the amount for its shooting was allocated by the government of Ukraine. The film was dedicated to children of the 90s of the 20th century. But Sentsov did not manage to realize his creative plans.
Arrest and sentence
In 2014, Sentsov was an active participant in Automaidan. Similar columns of motorists in support of Euromaidan were formed in many cities of Ukraine. At the time of the Crimean crisis, Oleg supported the Ukrainian military units blocked on the peninsula, brought them food and essentials. Soon after Russia's entry into Crimea, the country's security service detained Sentsov, suspecting him of terrorism.
Oleg was charged with membership in the "Right Sector", as well as carrying out terrorist attacks in the city center on the eve of Victory Day and organizing arson in the regional branch of the United Russia party. According to the FSB, similar actions were being prepared in other Crimean cities. In addition to the main person involved, several other people of the so-called "Sentsov group" were arrested. Soon they were taken to the Lefortovo prison in the capital.
According to the convict's lawyer, there was no direct evidence of Oleg's involvement in the "terrorist community" in the case. Defense representatives even filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights. Despite the speeches of the public and colleagues in filmmaking in support of the talented Ukrainian, the court's verdict was relentless - 20 years in a strict regime colony. Sentsov began serving his term in Yakutia, and then was convoyed to the Yamal-Nenets autonomy.
Sentsov today
Even in prison, Sentsov's creative biography did not end. Unable to make films, he created two literary collections: "Buy a book - it's funny" and "Stories." At the same time, a documentary film about the fate of Oleg was released.
In May 2018, Sentsov began an untimely hunger strike. It is noteworthy that the demands put forward by the convict did not concern his personal freedom. He wanted the release of 64 Ukrainian political prisoners in Russian prisons. The hunger strike lasted 145 days. During this time, Oleg lost 20 kilograms and blew his body, but the goal was never achieved.
Before his arrest, Sentsov's personal life looked quite happy. The family of the Ukrainian director had two children: daughter Alina and son Vladislav. After the verdict was passed, Alla's wife filed for divorce, since she and her children were left without support. The woman explained her decision by the fact that the status of the husband of a political prisoner prevents her from getting a job and buying housing. The only family member who continues to fight for Oleg's release is his cousin, journalist Natalya.
