And there is something we can do: please ask our Democratic congresspeople to co-sponsor HRes 1022, condemning the Crimea occupation, and Senators to co-sponsor SR 571.
Sentsov is not demanding freedom for himself. He is striking on behalf of other Ukrainian political prisoners, most of whom have been arrested and sentenced without anyone but their friends and loved ones knowing about it. Sentsov’s action prompted the Russian online publication OVDInfo, which tracks politically motivated arrests and trials, to create a tally of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia. After several weeks of research, OVDInfo located eighty-eight people whom the organization believes are in Russian custody for political reasons stemming from the war in Ukraine.
His letter, smuggled out in 2016, is so powerful:
There is no need to pull us out of here at all costs. This wouldn’t bring victory any closer. Yet using us as a weapon against the enemy will. You must know: we are not your weak point. If we’re supposed to become the nails in the coffin of a tyrant, I’d like to become one of those nails. Just know that this particular one will not bend.
He is doing this, giving his life intentionally to try to free his people.
And today, right when that happens, the disgusting toad in our white house instead of calling for his release, asserts that he can “override congress directive not to recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea”.
So many things today are beyond disgusting. But this one calls for action, because that’s why Sentsov decided to die.
Please call and ask your congresspeople to co-sponsor HR 1022 and SR 571