A Russian court began hearing witnesses on July 27 in the trial of Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov and activist Oleksandr Kolchenko, both charged with plotting a terrorist attack in annexed Crimea.
Sentsov was arrested in Crimea by the FSB just weeks following the annexation, after attending a pro-Ukrainian rally. The director has been kept in detention in Russian territory ever since and is now facing a minimum of 20 years of imprisonment, if found guilty, accoding to Ukraine Today.
The anti-fascist Ukrainian activist Alexander Kolchenko shared the defendant's bench with the film director. He is accused of assisting Sentsov and an arson attack against the office of the United Russia party.
Sentsov's supporters say he is being held as a political prisoner for his pro-Ukrainian views.
Both detainees have consistently pleaded not guilty.
Ealier, Sentsov claimed he had been tortured while in detention, and said his case was politically motivated.
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