Russia begins trial kidnapped Ukraine military pilot Savchenk   

Soviet Trial for Ukraine Pilot

Playing with images and drama dominated Oleh Senzow perfect. When the cameras take pictures, she smiles at  Ukrainian photographers  and formed a victory sign, through the bars of the courtroom cage.

 “I am not afraid 20 years ago in prison because I know that the rule of the bloody dwarf will end earlier in your country,” she had said earlier at a hearing –  in allusion to the Soviet President Vladimir Putin.

Translation /  © DIE ZEIT

This Monday the trial of Senzow and co-accused Ukrainian activist Aleksander Koltschenko continues in southern Russia Rostov-on-Don.

The Russian authorities accuse Senzow 2014 masterminding a terrorist cell in the right sector at the spring in Crimea. But he faces imprisonment: 20 years to go to live long. Koltschenko accused member of a terrorist organization. 

Attention not only in Ukraine is big, after all, it is the first case against some Ukrainian Putin-hostages, as the Ukrainian newspaper Zerkalo Nedeli calls

In the Crimea Senzow Koltschenko was among those residents who actively protested against the annexation ofCrimea by Russia.

A few weeks after the connection they were – as well as other pro-Ukrainian activists – arrested and taken to Moscow. In Russia they face trial now under Russian law – though they see themselves as Ukrainian citizens.

The Moscow interpretation is, however, so:

Since Senzow and Koltschenko have not declared their rejection of the Russian citizenship in writing within the period of one month after the annexation, they became automatically to Russian citizens.   

In the center of the court two arson attacks on offices are of pro-Russian organizations in the Crimean capital Simferopol. In large part, the charges against Senzow and Koltschenko on made on the testimony of two activists of the Crimea, who were arrested as the two defendants in spring 2014 by the Russian secret service.

Observers expect that the confessions of the two former allies have been forced. 

The allegations of torture have a number of inconsistencies.

So Senzow is accused of “terrorist attacks of plotting to destabilize the situation and bring the government to harm the Russian Federation”.

In order for the Director to have begun in March last year – the Crimea was annexed but only on March 18, 2014. Also Koltschenko to have been a member of the right-wing extremist right sector.He is in the Crimea, but for many years as a left-wing activist known. Also Senzow rejects any connection to the right sector. 

The arrest of 38-year-old Senzow, 2012 his feature film debut with the film Gamer drew excited in the film scene international attention. Movie stars   Pedro Almodovar, Wim Wenders  demand his release.

Early July in Berlin the Ukrainian Film Festival held benifit for his support.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe has called for the release of the Ukrainians. 

Translation /  © DIE ZEIT