Russian authorities indict Sentsov

MOSCOW – Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov, who was arrested last year by Russian authorities controlling Crimea and accused of plotting terrorist attacks, has received the final version of his indictment. Mr. Sentsov’s lawyer, Dmitry Dinze, told reporters on April 16 that his client had been charged with terrorism and illegal weapons possession. Mr. Sentsov and three other Ukrainian citizens were arrested in May on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks in the Crimean cities of Symferopol, Yalta, and Sevastopol. Mr. Sentsov is being held in Moscow’s Lefortovo jail. The European Film Academy has urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to explain Mr. Sentsov’s arrest. The signatories included Agustin and Pedro Almodovar, Andrzej Wajda, Wim Wenders, Krzysztof Zanussi and Daniel Olbrychski. In June 2014, prominent Russian film director Nikita Mikhalkov, who is known for his close ties with Mr. Putin, and the chairman of the Ukrainian Film Directors Union, Serhiy Trymbach, also asked the Russian president to release Mr. Sentsov. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Interfax and Rapsinews.ru)