Ukraine does not exclude possibility of exchanging Sentsov for RIA Novosti editor-in-chief Vyshinsky
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry is considering all possible courses of action to ensure the release of Ukrainian filmmaker and social activist Oleg Sentsov from Russian prison, said Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mariana Betsa at a briefing on Sentsov’s hunger strike, RBC-Ukraine reports.
Notably, when asked whether it was possible that Sentsov could be exchanged for Kirill Vyshinsky, the head of RIA Novosti Ukraine who was arrested on charges of high treason, Betsa said, “Anything is possible”.
“Anything is possible. I cannot disclose all details, because if we had announced it in advance, believe me, neither Akhtem Chiygoz nor Ilmi Umerov would have been released yet. I can say one thing – the negotiation process is not stopping,” Betsa said.
According to her, Russia is blocking all of Ukraine’s requests for access to Sentsov. In the last year alone, Ukraine has made more than 20 such requests.
“Every day we pressurize Russia by sending these notes, these requests. We also raise this issue in all international forums – the UN, the OSCE,” Betsa remarked.
Earlier on Sunday, the defense of Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov said that he intends to continue his hunger strike until he dies, or 64 political prisoners are released.