The U.S. actress and renowned philanthropist was pictured alongside Nayyem with a "Free Sentsov" sign in a photograph taken during the PEN America Annual Literary Gala on April 25, at which Sentsov was honored with a 2017 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write award.
Nayyem, who posted the photograph on his Facebook account on April 30, said that the actress was genuinely interested in Sentsov's case, and eager to help.
"After the traditional photo shoot [at PEN - ed.] we ended up next to it other, and I though I could use this to make Ms. Streep another advocate for our Crimean [Sentsov hails from occupied Crimea - ed.]. I was surprised to learn that the actress knew there was a detained director among the nominees, but she didn't know any details.
"During a short dialogue I managed to tell her enough of Oleh Sentsov's story - the materials of his case, his family, Crimea, forcibly granted citizenship, and his two kids who remain on the occupied territory," he wrote.
Nayeem said Streep looked interested and ask "how could we help him." The MP offered to make a picture of her holding the #FreeSentsov poster, and she agreed. Later, when a video of Sentsov's nomination was screened, Streep could help but crying, Nayeem reported.
Oleh Sentsov had been charged by Russia with organizing a terrorist group in occupied Crimea and sentenced to 20 years in prison.