A Crimean filmmaker accused of terrorism by Russia will remain in detention despite an open letter in his support by icons of European filmmaking.
Moscow's Lefortovsky District Court on Monday extended Oleg Sentsov's stay in custody until October 11, Interfax reported.
Sentsov, who opposed Russia's annexation of Crimea in March, was detained in May by the Russian security services.
He stands accused of having helped with the preparations of several bombings in Crimea's capital Simferopol in cahoots with activists of Ukraine's ultranationalist group Right Sector, which has been routinely lambasted as "fascist" by Russian state media.
Sentsov, 38, faces up to 20 years in prison on terrorist charges.
The filmmaker, whose debut feature "The Gamer" (2011) screened at the prestigious International Film Festival Rotterdam, pleaded not guilty.
Sentsov's arrest was denounced by Amnesty International, and a number of European filmmakers, including Ken Loach, Pedro Almodovar, Wim Wenders and Krzysztof Zanussi, published an open letter last month in support of his release.
Famous Russian director Nikita Mikhalkov, who is known for his pro-Kremlin stance, also called for Crimean filmmaker's release, but to no avail.
See also:
European Filmmakers Call On Putin After Crimean Jailed for Terrorism
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