Sentsov trial starts in Russia

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia – Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov and a co-defendant have gone on trial on terror charges in southern Russia. Mr. Sentsov told a military court in the city of Rostov-on-Don on July 21, “I don’t consider this court a court at all, so you can consider whatever you want.” He is charged with organizing a terrorist group, planning terrorist attacks and illegally acquiring explosives. If found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison. Mr. Sentsov and the other defendant, Oleksandr Kolchenko, deny any wrongdoing. They were arrested with two other Ukrainian citizens, Oleksiy Chyrniy and Hennadiy Afanasyev, in May 2014 on suspicion of planning terrorist attacks on Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia two months earlier. Messrs. Chyrniy and Afanasyev have been found guilty of participating in the group and sentenced to seven years in prison. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Agence France-Presse, Interfax and Rapsinews.ru)