Nadezhda Savchenko is ready to go on hunger strike, her defence reports

On October 6, after the Court in the Rostov Region held a session in the case against Ukrainian aviator Nadezhda Savchenko, her advocate Ilya Novikov informed journalists that the defence treated the persons questioned on October 6 as false witnesses.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Ukrainian aviator Nadezhda Savchenko is charged with involvement in the killing of two staff members of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (known as VGTRK) near Lugansk and illegal border crossing. The defendant pleads not guilty. Starting from September 22, the case is considered on the merits at the Donetsk City Court of the Rostov Region.

According to advocate Ilya Novikov, the defence is indignant by the testimony given by witness Alexei Miroshnikov, who refused to answer a series of questions and who was supported by the court in his refusal.

"He drove a Gazel car of his friend. He refuses to mention his friend's name, and the court supports him in his refusal. During my experience, this is the first case when the witness says: 'Yes, I know, but I will not say, since I do not want to,' and the court agrees with that statement," said Ilya Novikov.

The advocate has also reported that during the court session held on October 6, the judge warned the defendant that he might remove her from the courtroom until the end of the trial. Nadezhda Savchenko has admitted the possibility of declaring a hunger strike in case if she is removed from the courtroom.

Advocate Mark Feighin has informed journalists about the active discussions of the extradition of Nadezhda Savchenko to Ukraine after the pronouncement of the verdict.

According to Mark Feighin, the change of the defenders of Nadezhda Savchenko may become one of the conditions for the extradition of the defendant to Ukraine.

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