On the anniversary day of Sentsov’s arrest, an action in support of Ukrainian political prisoners and prisoners of war took place in Kyiv (VIDEO)

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Photo screenshot from video

Today, on May 10, on the day of the 5th anniversary of the arrest of Oleg Sentsov, in the capital’s Khreshchatyi Park, Ukrainian writers, actors, musicians and human rights activists planted flowers as a sign of support for our compatriots who became political prisoners of the Kremlin. This action was founded by actress Rimma Zyubina. Flashmob has slogan: “Plant flowers, not people.”

“It all started with my stay in Krakow in April. There was an action launched by the Krakow City Hall “Plant a Tree”. Then I thought that this is the least that I can do for people who are now behind bars. Oleg has been sitting for 5 years, of which he was not counted for 1 year. But I thought that, apparently, it would be warm to him from the thought that he could find “a cozy place under a tree” anywhere in the world. I do not want to think that this tree will grow very large, when Oleg can hide under the branches from the sun. I posted my thoughts on Facebook, I was supported in the Czech Republic, as well as in Slovakia, a tree was planted for Mykola Karpiuk, and a huge rose bush was planted in California for Oleg. In the Chernihiv oblast, too, there was such an action, there activists planted. Now, when we say “FreeSentsov”, this is not only a matter of freedom for Oleg Sentsov, we are talking about all our political prisoners and prisoners of war. This is another opportunity for people to hear their names, for people to think. Oleg Sentsov is the personification of freedom and the desire for freedom of Ukrainians who fought against the occupation in the Crimea. These flowers are called cannes. We did not know this. I think this is very symbolic. Oleg and I met at the Truskavets Film Festival in 2012, and I want to go to the Cannes Film Festival and get my award,” said the flashmob initiator actress Rimma Zyubina.

Director Akhtem Seitablaev, writer Andrii Kurkov, musician Andrii Khlyvnyuk, scientist Ihor Kozlovskiy and activists of various public organizations joined the action.

“I constantly take part in such actions in support of Ukrainian political prisoners and prisoners of war, because it is my responsibility, and this is important for the people who are there. Information still comes to them that they are fighting for you. All this inspires and gives an understanding that you are not abandoned, it gives strength. Such actions are also needed to remind the Ukrainian and international society that people are suffering there. This is a reminder to pull our people out of prisons and torture chambers. This is our common responsibility,” emphasized the candidate of historical sciences, the religious scholar, public figure Igor Kozlovskiy.

During the campaign, 800 cannes were planted in flowerbeds in the metropolitan Kreschatyi Park. The flash mob was initiated by the Center for Civil Liberties, PEN Ukraine and AvtoMaydan with the support of the Kyiv City State Administration. As you know, on May 10, 5 years ago, a Ukrainian film director, writer and screenwriter Oleg Sentsov was arrested in Simferopol. During his time in jail, he became the winner of the Sakharov Prize “For Freedom of Thought” and Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine.

Now at least 98 Ukrainian political prisoners are being held in the Russian Federation and the occupied Crimea, about 120 prisoners of war and civilian hostages in the basements of the occupied Donbass and 24 Ukrainian sailors of prisoners in the Lefortovo jail.

For more information on how the plant “Plant flowers, not people” took place on the day of the 5th anniversary of the arrest of Oleg Sentsov in capital’s Khreshchatyi Park, initiated by actress Rimma Zyubina, see the story “Journalist”.

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