Verdict against Nadezhda Savchenko being pronounced in atmosphere of agitation and disinformation

The court session room and video conference rooms have failed to accommodate all journalists, diplomats, and activists, who came to the Donetsk City Court to listen to the pronouncement of the verdict against Ukrainian aviator Nadezhda Savchenko. Today, it has been mistakenly reported with reference to three Russian news agencies that the verdict against Nadezhda Savchenko has already been pronounced, while the judge has read out the indictment only.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at the Donetsk City Court, the judge began reading out the verdict in the case against Nadezhda Savchenko, accused of the deaths of Russian journalists not far from Lugansk. This morning, a group of young people gathered in front of the courthouse and called on to pronounce a verdict of guilty against Nadezhda Savchenko. The rally was sanctioned by the authorities.

Only Vera, a sister of Nadezhda Savchenko, several deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, diplomats, and five camera crews were allowed to enter the courtroom. All diplomats were not able to get into the courtroom. A lot of journalists failed to get into the courthouse, since the press secretary of the Donetsk City Court announced that "the rooms were full."

According to the indictment, Nadezhda Savchenko committed crimes "motivated by hatred and antagonism against a social group represented by the civilian population of the Lugansk Region of Ukraine." Meanwhile, the document read out by the judge did not mention the deliberate murder of journalists of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (known as VGTRK).

Besides, the judge has read out the testimonies given by members of the battalion "Zarya" (Dawn) of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (known as LNR). According to their testimonies, "Nadezhda Savchenko was 'a spiritual leader of the volunteer battalion 'Aidar'".

Residents of Donetsk interviewed by the "Caucasian Knot" voiced different opinions concerning Nadezhda Savchenko. Some of the city residents, not even being aware of the core of the charge, have expressed an aggressive attitude towards the defendant. Others spoke out against the prosecution of Nadezhda Savchenko, although they did not follow the news about the trial.

The pronouncement of the verdict is postponed to 10:00 a.m. Moscow time of March 22.

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