‘Let’s start as I could die by next hearing’: Russian court refuses to release Ukraine pilot


Moscow City Court has rejected hunger-striking Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko’s challenge against an extension of her pretrial detention period, upholding a ruling ordered her held until May 13.

 “Let’s start, because I could be dead by the next court hearing,” Savchenko, who is on the 75th day of her hunger-strike, said before the hearing on Wednesday.

Savchenko has not been taken to the courtroom, UNIAN reports. A video conference was organised; she was speaking Ukrainian while an interpreter was translating her words into Russian.

Savchenko spoke confidently, but always sat with her hands on the table because of weakness. From time to time she rested her head on the table.

According to the pilot, she was abducted in eastern Ukraine and secretly taken to Russia. Moscow states that Savchenko visited Russia under the pretence of a refugee and was arrested. Russia accuses her of killing two journalists.

The Ukrainian officer declares she will be on a hunger strike until Russia finds her innocent and delivers her to Ukraine. Savchenko is ready to die to restore justice, which cannot leave international community unfazed. But Russia has rejected Western calls for her release.

Nadiya Savchenko is also a MP and member of the country’s delegation to PACE.

On February 10, Moscow’s Basmanny court extended the term of Savchenko’s arrest until May 13.

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