Ukrainian ombudsman demands urgent access to Balukha:
From RFE/RL's Central Newsroom:
Hunger-Striking Sentsov's Health Deteriorating, Lawyer Says
By RFE/RL
The health of jailed Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, who has been on hunger strike for almost 40 days in a Russian penal colony, is deteriorating, his lawyer says.
Dmitry Dinze told RFE/RL on June 22 that Sentsov had lost almost 15 kilograms since he started the hunger strike on May 14, and is experiencing problems with his heart and kidneys.
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According to Dinze, Sentsov's condition abruptly deteriorated on the 26th day of his hunger strike, and the administration of the penal colony in far-northern Yamalo-Nenets region had rushed him to a local hospital.
The 41-year-old Sentsov, a vocal opponent of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, was sentenced in 2015 to 20 years for conspiracy to commit terror acts.
A native of Crimea, Sentsov and human rights groups say the charges were politically motivated. On May 14, he began a hunger strike, demanding the release of 64 Ukrainian citizens he considers political prisoners.
Western governments and rights organizations have called for Sentsov to be released, and the Russian human rights group Memorial considers him to be a political prisoner.
Several groups have called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to pardon Sentsov, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that the Ukrainian film director would have to ask for the pardon himself before it could be considered.
Dinze said on June 22 that Sentsov would not submit a request for a pardon.
"Oleh objects to being pardoned. He will not write anything to the president," Dinze was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.
The UN General Assembly approves a resolution on the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova's Transdniester region:
Sentsov's health deteriorating, lawyer says:
By RFE/RL
The health of jailed Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, who has been on hunger strike for almost 40 days in a Russian penal colony, is deteriorating, his lawyer says.
Dmitry Dinze told RFE/RL on June 22 that Sentsov had lost almost 15 kilograms since he started the hunger strike on May 14, and is experiencing problems with his heart and kidneys.
According to Dinze, Sentsov's condition abruptly deteriorated on the 26th day of his hunger strike, and the administration of the penal colony in far-northern Yamalo-Nenets region had rushed him to a local hospital.
Dinze said one of the hospital's doctors initially recommended treatment for the patient, including feeding him through an IV drip.
"But after he realized who had been brought [in], he...retracted his recommendations...and Sentsov was returned to the penal colony," Dinze said.
The 41-year-old Sentsov, a vocal opponent of Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, was sentenced in 2015 to 20 years for conspiracy to commit terror acts.
A native of Crimea, Sentsov and human rights groups say the charges were politically motivated. On May 14, he began a hunger strike, demanding the release of 64 Ukrainian citizens he considers political prisoners.
Western governments and rights organizations have called for Sentsov to be released, and the Russian human rights group Memorial considers him to be a political prisoner.
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (click to enlarge):
