Ukraine: Rally planned outside Russian embassy in Kyiv August 21 /update 1

Event

A number of civil society groups, including PEN International and the Center for Civil Liberties, are planning to hold a rally outside of the Russian embassy in Kyiv on Tuesday, August 21. The demonstration is being held in support of Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian writer and director, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence in Russia. Supporters are scheduled to gather outside the embassy at 11:00 (local time) until 13:00. Heightened security measures and localized traffic disruptions are anticipated around the event.

Context

A similar rally in support of Sentsov was held in Kyiv on June 2.

In 2015, Sentsov was convicted of conspiring to commit terrorist acts. Sentsov and other civil rights groups claim that the charges are politically motivated. Tuesday marks the 100th day of Sentsov’s ongoing hunger strike, which he launched on May 14 to demand the release of 64 other Ukrainian citizens that he claims are political prisoners in Russia. On August 15, UN experts warned that Sentsov’s life is in imminent danger due to the hunger strike and called for his immediate unconditional release.

Advice

Individuals in Kyiv are advised to monitor the situation, avoid all potential protests as a precaution, and adhere to all instructions issued by the local authorities.