Ukrainian filmmaker convicted of terrorism in Crimea is transferred to Moscow ahead of anticipated prisoner swap

Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Senstov has been transferred from his prison cell in Labytnangi (a town in Russia’s Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug) to one of Moscow’s detention centers, sources tell the news agencies Interfax and TASS.

Sentsov’s transfer to the capital is reportedly part of an upcoming prisoner exchange with Ukraine. A source told Interfax that he’s now being held at Moscow’s Butyrka prison, while the Telegram channel Baza says Sentsov has been moved to the city’s “Lefortovo” detention center.

Sentsov’s lawyer, Dmitry Dizne, has neither confirmed nor denied reports about his client’s transfer to Moscow.

Earlier this month, journalists learned that Moscow and Kyiv are preparing a mass exchange of prisoners. The trade will reportedly take place in late August and involve 66 different people. Oleg Sentsov was not believed to be one of these individuals.

A day ago, on August 28, a court in Kyiv has released Russian journalist Kirill Vyshinsky, the editor-in-chief of RIA Novosti — Ukraine, on his own recognizance. Vyshinsky was arrested by Ukraine's National Security Agency more than a year ago, in May 2018, for allegedly carrying out subversive, treasonous activities on the Kremlin's behalf. Like Sentsov, Vyshinsky wasn’t believed to be one of the 66 prisoners who could be exchanged between Moscow and Kyiv.