Former President of Poland Lech Walesa has nominated Oleg Sentsov, a Ukrainian filmmaker held as a political prisoner by Russia, for the Nobel Peace Prize, according to a statement issued by the Polish Film Academy on Aug. 28.
Walesa himself was a recipient of the award, and as such, is qualified to nominate future candidates.
“I’m appealing to all men and women of good will to help free Oleg Sentsov, and I nominate Oleg Sentsov for the Nobel Peace Prize,” Walesa said in the statement posted by the academy on its website.
Walesa said Sentsov deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his support for Ukraine’s 2013-2014 EuroMaidan Revolution, his peaceful protest against Russia’s occupation of his native Crimea, and his continuing hunger strike for the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners imprisoned by Russia. Sentsov has not demanded his own release.
Sentsov was sentenced to 20 years in prison following a sham trial by a Kremlin-controlled court in 2015. Human rights watchdog Amnesty International has described the court process as “an unfair trial before a military court.”
“Sentsov’s last words, in which he asked the Russian nation to ‘learn not to be scared,’ is indicative of his commendable attitude towards the brotherhood of nations,” Walesa said.
Walesa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 for heading the Solidarity social movement, which peacefully opposed the then totalitarian communist regime in Poland. He said that Sentsov’s actions are worthy of the same recognition.
“I’m profoundly convinced that through his actions, Oleg Sentsov represents all the ideals that motivated me during my peaceful struggle for the future of the world,” Walesa said.
“A belief in democracy; in peaceful methods; renouncing hatred; working towards solidarity amongst nations, and the ultimate sacrifice of oneself for the good of other unjustly treated people – these are all highly commendable qualities, worthy of the highest recognition of the free world.”
Sentsov is 107 days into his hunger strike, which he started to draw the world’s attention to the around 70 Ukrainian political prisoners kept in Russian jails. He is now in critical condition, according to his cousin Nataliya Kaplan.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually on Dec. 10 to a person or a group of people who have “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
The winner is selected by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, a five-member committee appointed by the Parliament of Norway.
