12:18, 9 March 2016

Savchenko threatened new hunger strike in response to verdict

Nadezhda Savchenko pronouncing her last plea at the Donetsk City Court, March 9, 2016. Screenshot of a video monitoring. Photo by Konstantin Volgin for the "Caucasian Knot"

Today, the Ukrainian aviator Nadezhda Savchenko has pronounced her last plea at the Donetsk City Court of the Rostov Region.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that the court has set the date for announcing the verdict – March 21 and 22.

After the appointment of the date of announcing the verdict, Savchenko began singing the national anthem of Ukraine. Only a few journalists, Savchenko's mother and sister and officials from the Ukrainian Consulate were admitted to the courtroom. In his final plea at the court, Savchenko refused to plead guilty.

"I refuse to admit either my guilt or the sentence of the Russian court. After the verdict, I continue striking for other 10 days. After 10 days, I'll declare a 'dry' hunger strike; and then, Russia will have 10 days to transfer me to Ukraine," the "Interfax" quotes Nadezhda Savchenko's statement.

Besides, she has confirmed her refusal, in case of a guilty verdict, from lodging an appeal against it.

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

Author: Konstantin Volgin

Source: CK correspondent