Documentary
Director: Askold Kurov
Genre: Documentary
Country: Czech Republic, Estonia and Poland
Language: Russian, Ukrainian and English
Length: 75 Minutes
Also known as: Protses: filʹm pro spravu Sentsova (original title), Процесс: Российское государство против Олега Сенцова (Russian title), Der Prozess: Der russische Staat gegen Oleg Senzov (German title)
Availability:
vimeo.com
ARD Mediathek until 12/16/2022 in German
see also Oleg Sentsov’s statement on arte
The Trial: The State of Russia vs Oleg Sentsov (2017) – Synopsis
Oleg Sentsov is a Ukrainian filmmaker, Euromaidan activist and native of Crimea. After the Russian annexation of Crimea, he became an active opponent of the occupation. In May 2014, he was arrested by the Russian security service, charged with planned terrorist attacks and transported to Moscow. After over a year in custody, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, despite the fact that the testimonies were given under duress and evidence was insufficient. Sentsov never pled guilty.
Director Askold Kurov follows the progress of the trial and the attempts of Oleg’s family, friends and lawyers to save him from prison. The notorious case inspired protests around the world: the European Film Academy and many renowned filmmakers such as Pedro Almodovar, Wim Wenders, Agnieszka Holland, Ken Loach, Johnny Depp and others called for Oleg’s release. Kurov’s investigation gradually reveals an absurd and frightening Kafkaesque story about how anyone can become a victim of a ruthless state machine.
Further Information:
Wikipedia in English / Ukrainian
