Nadezhda Savchenko's advocates decide to speed up trial in her case

During the hunger strike, Nadezhda Savchenko has lost 15 kilograms, and her health state raises concerns. This was reported by advocates of the Ukrainian aviator. The advocates expect that the verdict against Nadezhda Savchenko will be pronounced in February, and they have decided to speed up the trial.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the case against Nadezhda Savchenko is being considered at trial since September 22, 2015. She is accused of involvement in the murder of two staff members of the All-Russia State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (known as VGTRK) nor far from the city of Lugansk on June 17, 2014, and of illegal crossing of the border of Russia. The defendant pleads not guilty.

Today, after the New Year holidays, the Donetsk City Court of the Rostov Region has continued the consideration of the criminal case against Nadezhda Savchenko.

The Court has received materials from the General Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine. In the documents presented to the defence, the Ukrainian side has indicated that Nadezhda Savchenko "was kidnapped from the territory of Ukraine and forcibly brought to Russia."

Advocate Ilya Novikov fears that "prison physicians will ban Nadezhda Savchenko from coming to trial." According to him, the physicians may issue such a ban "under the pretext that the defendant feels bad."

There is no complete confidence that Nadezhda Savchenko may be changed for other agents. This was stated by Vladimir Akimenkov, a former defendant in the criminal case on the riots in Bolotnaya Square in Moscow on May 6, 2012, who had been recognized by the Human Rights Centre (HRC) "Memorial" as a political prisoner.

Evgeniya Slyozka, a member of the Ukrainian group of public monitoring "OZON", believes that Nadezhda Savchenko "will be released due to international pressure."

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