Support Aleksandra Sokurova’s request for mercy

Zoia Svetova – journalist, human rights activist and winner of the Moscow Helsinki Group in the field of protection of human rights, a former member of the PMC Moscow

On December at a joint meeting on culture and art and Russian Language Council Council filmmaker Alexander Sokurov has asked President Vladimir Putin to release Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. “Mercy is above justice,” – reminded Christian Sokurov Christian Vladimir Putin phrase said by one of the Fathers of the Church.

Sokurov: “I have a heartfelt request to you, Vladimir Vladimirovich, as a citizen of Russia as the director. Let’s solve the problem Olega Sentsov. 20 years, Ukrainian director, 20 years in the camps, the guy sitting in the northern camp. I am ashamed that we still can not solve this problem. I beg you, find a solution to this problem. It’s impossible. Director, he should fight me at film festivals, if he has another, including the political point of view, but not sitting in our Arctic virtually, in the north, prison. It’s a shame and sad that I have to talk about it. “

Putin: “Regarding Sentsova. We must proceed from the fact that we live in a state of law, and these kinds of questions, of course, must be dealt with the court system. As for his work, he is not convicted for creativity, and for the fact that he took on a completely different function, as organs of the investigation and the court claim, and it is actually dedicated his life to terrorist activity. “

Sokurov: “Vladimir Vladimirovich, in Russian, in a Christian mercy is above justice. I beg you. Mercy is above justice. You are welcome”.

Putin: “Russian and a Christian, we act in this situation can not without a court order. The court’s decision was held. Yes, there are certain rules and regulations, which can take advantage of, but it is necessary that the relevant conditions are ripe. “

An important detail: Putin thought. He did not deny Sokurov, and in the usual manner of its bureaucratic problem, reminding about the judicial system and “appropriate conditions”.

In an interview with “Novaya Gazeta” Aleksandr Sokurov said that his request for mercy, none of the members of the culture is not supported by the Council. Then he reproached many why he disturbed Putin, why not turn to the Commission on Pardons

These accusations Sokurov says: “I – a citizen of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin – a citizen of the Russian Federation. Therefore, nothing strange in his public address to the president, I do not see. “

In fairness: Sokurov – not the only person on the culture, who asked for the release of Oleg Sentsov. Andrei Zvyagintsev Vladimir Kott Vladimir Mirzoyev, Alexei German Jr., Pavel Bardin, Alexey Fedorchenko and Askold Kurov wrote letters in his defense. But Sokurov managed to convey his request directly to the president.

Responding Sokurov, Putin said that Sentsov actually devoted his life to terrorism. It is not true. The President informed properly. The verdict there is no evidence that Sentsov ever planned any terrorist attacks. Besides reading Alexei Cirno given under terrible torture in the case against Sentsova nothing. It is known that the second witness Gennady Afanasiev allegations that in detention under torture incriminated director, at the trial of his words refused.

Vladimir Putin explained Sokurov that release Sentsov must “ripen appropriate conditions.” What kind?

What are the “appropriate conditions” are ripe, when Putin pardoned Hope Savchenko? But it was convicted for the murder of two Russian journalists. For a murder she did not commit.

“Conditions appear ripe”, and Putin pardoned Gennady Afanasiev, who was convicted for the attacks, which, according to investigators, he had prepared together with Sentsov. But the attacks were not – they are the fruit of the imagination of investigators.

“Conditions appear ripe”, and Putin pardoned the 73-year-old Yuri Soloshenko convicted of espionage in favor of Ukraine. And this espionage – also the fruit of the imagination of investigators.

To release Oleg Sentsov, as well as for the liberation of Ukrainians Aleksandra Kolchenko Valentina Vygovskogo, Nikolaya Karpyuka, Stanislaus Fang has long been ripe. These Ukrainian citizens have asked the Ministry of Justice of Russia and the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine to them was transferred to serve his sentence in Ukraine.

And Putin must ask about how to execute the law. The fact that Oleg Sentsov – a citizen of Ukraine, in his written judgment. His Ukrainian citizenship confirmed Ella Pamfilova, in its report on Human Rights in 2015. According to the law, for his placement in Ukraine there are no obstacles, but the will of the Russian Justice Ministry.

I want to believe that not only is Alexander Sokurov in the multimillion Russian – Christian who remembers about charity.

I appeal to the culture of the people, those who supported the joining of Crimea to Russia, and to those who did not support. I talk to the people of culture, which in the near future, President Vladimir Putin will present the national prizes.

I beg you, find the courage and support Aleksandra Sokurova’s request for mercy!

It will be right. Christian.

Sourse, 07/12/2017