Ukrainian MFA urges Russia to release Nadezhda Savchenko

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Ukraine has expressed its strong protest in connection with the trial against Nadezhda Savchenko, a Ukrainian citizen and a people's deputy of Ukraine. The Ukrainian MFA has demanded to release Nadezhda Savchenko.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Nadezhda Savchenko is accused of involvement in the killing of two employees of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (known as VGTRK) near Lugansk and illegal border crossing. The case against Nadezhda Savchenko is being considered at the Donetsk City Court in the Rostov Region. The defence insists on her innocence. The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has included the name of Nadezhda Savchenko in the list of persons recognized as political prisoners.

"We demand from the Russian Federation to immediately stop the mentioned judicial farce and release Nadezhda Savchenko and all other citizens of Ukraine, who are still illegally kept on the territory of Russia," reports the statement published on the website of the Ukrainian MFA on September 29.

The Ukrainian MFA has stressed that "the Russian side violates its obligations under the Council of Europe and continues to ignore the status of Nadezhda Savchenko as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, who enjoys certain relevant immunities."

"On September 29, the Donetsk City Court of the Rostov Region once again proved the political nature of the case, when it dismissed the defence's motion concerning the use of technical means in the course of court hearings for presentation of evidence and when it did not allow using a lie detector during the interrogation of Nadezhda Savchenko," emphasizes the Ukrainian MFA.

Let us remind you that the Court has rejected the use of a lie detector during the interrogation of Nadezhda Savchenko and questioning of witnesses. In her turn, Nadezhda Savchenko pleaded not guilty in court. In the course of the trial, Nadezhda Savchenko has explained that during the shelling, she was not engaged in the adjustment of the fire, but she only asked the artillerists not to shell the roads.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.