The figures of Russian culture made an appeal to President Vladimir Putin with a request to pardon Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov.

The appeal was published on the website of the radio station Ekho Moskvy, Radio Free Europe.

It noted that "Sentsov's wine is not so great that it was given for 20 years". Sentsov, in the opinion of the signatories under the appeal, is sincere and honest in his convictions - his indefinite hunger strike proves this. "It is necessary to show mercy in order to save human life. We need to soften the political climate in the country, put up with neighbors. Have pity on Oleg Sentsov, we ask you, "the authors of the petition summarize.

The appeal was signed by 13 people.

Among them are directors Andrei Zvyagintsev, Alexander Sokurov and Valery Todorovsky, actress and head of the charity fund "Give life" Chulpan Khamatova, animator Yuri Norshtein, TV host Vladimir Pozner and Ksenia Sobchak.

Ukrainian director Oleg Sentsov, convicted in Russia for 20 years on charges of preparing terrorist acts in the Crimea, did not admit his guilt. On May 14, he went on a hunger strike demanding that all Ukrainian political prisoners be released from Russian prisons, which he still does not stop. Sentsov repeatedly stated that he would keep her "until the end".