Oleg Sentsov, the Ukrainian filmmaker sentenced to 20 years in prison by the Russian Federation after protesting that country’s annexation of his native Crimea, has signed papers to be extradited to Ukraine, according to his lawyer Svetlana Sidorkina. Sentsov was sentenced on charges of terrorism after testimony by multiple witnesses who all later claimed to have given forced confessions under torture.

Oleg Sentsov reads letters in prison in an undated photo (Tatiana Shchur.)

Sentsov was sentenced along with Aleksandr Kolchenko, who also signed the papers in early April, according to Sidorkina. She told the Russian radio station Echo of Moscow that the papers must have arrived by now at the Ministry of Justice. The Ministry has neither confirmed nor denied that fact.

The signing of extradition papers is the next step to freedom for Oleg Sentsov in the complex diplomacy of Russia’s undeclared war on Ukraine. In January Russian and Ukrainian negotiators reached a tentative agreement to trade Sentsov and Kolchenko for two Russian commandos captured in Ukraine, with each facing trial in their own country.

Oleg Sentsov is best known for his 2011 film Gámer. The filmmaker has been an active leader of protests against the Russian annexation of Crimea after a highly disputed 95.5% vote in favor of annexation.

The UN General Assembly voted 100-11 in favor of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and against Russia’s claim to the peninsula.

Sentsov has been classified by numerous organizations as a prisoner of conscience, including The Voice Project, who has continued to advocate for his unconditional release. You can add your voice to that campaign here.

Sentsov was hastily relocated in March in a Russian response to growing pressure by human rights organizations calling for his release. Though he is theorized to be in Siberia, he has still been communication via letter.

The Voice Project will continue to advocate for Oleg Sentsov’s release, and will provide updates to his case as they arise.