13:01, 25 December 2015

RRC denies appeal against Savchenko's arrest

Nadezhda Savchenko in the Rostov Regional Court, December 14, 2015. Photo by Konstantin Volgin for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

The Rostov Regional Court (RRC) has upheld the extension of the arrest of the Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko.

The case of Nadezhda Savchenko is being considered by the Donetsk City Court since September 22. She is accused of involvement in the murder of two staff members of the All-Russian State TV and Radio Company (known as VGTRK) near the Ukrainian city of Lugansk on June 17, 2014, and illegally crossing the Russian state border. Nadezhda rejects her guilt. The Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" has put Nadezda Savchenko on list of political prisoners.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 17 the Donetsk City Court granted the petition lodged by the prosecution and asking to extend Nadezhda Savchenko's arrest. Her defence filed an appeal complaint against the judgement.

Today, the RRC has upheld the judgement of the Donetsk City Court to extend Savchenko's arrest until April 16, 2016. Thus, the appeal complaint of her defence was left without satisfaction.

Ilya Novikov, Nadezhda's advocate, justified his complaint, in particular, by the fact that Savchenko enjoys her international immunity as a delegate of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and, therefore, cannot be kept in custody. The RRC has rejected the defence's arguments, the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent reports.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on December 17, in response to the court's judgement to extend her arrest, Nadezhda Savchenko went on a hunger strike until the end of the trial. After passing the verdict, she intends to declare a dry hunger strike.

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

Author: Konstantin Volgin

Source: CK correspondent