Russia’s Donetsk on day of rendering verdict for Nadiya Savchenko (report)


Belsat.eu correspondent Karol Łuczka is reporting from Russia’s Donetsk on the day of passing a sentence upon Ukrainian aviatrix Nadiya Savchenko.

Perhaps, today is the last hearing in the trial of Savchenko that started In September, 2015. The Ukrainian pilot is accused of murdering Russian journalists and illegal border crossing. In her turn, the woman denies any wrongdoing. According to Savchenko, she was abducted by force and transported to Russia. Savchenko’s lawyers state that at the moment shelling the defendant was in captivity in Russia and, consequently, she was not able to regulate fire.

From early morning  security forces have been on patrol Donetsk; traffic is blocked on Lenin Avenue, where the courthouse is situated. Every 50 metres there are police officers or Cossack vigilante groups.

The policemen are severe, they are asking not to walk on the roadway – but it is already closed. Only their boss is in a good mood: when talking with journalists who have already spent an hour in the freezing cold waiting at the entrance to the court building, he cut clumsy jokes:

“Your nails are beautifully painted! Perhaps in the colour of the Ukrainian flag?!” he laughs in his short-term power thrill.

“We will let you by two! Two diplomats will go, then two journalists,” he continues.

Senior Sergeant Dmitry  – as he introduced himself later – even tried to prevent Savchenko’s sister Vira from entering the court. To be let in, one has to wait outdoors about one hour and half.  The entrances are guarded with masked riot policemen soldiers who are armed with Kalashnikovs; special forces take photos of everyone eager to be present at the hearing.

The trial seems to be developing without any significant surprises. The judge is reading out the document prepared in advance so fast even Russian speakers fail to fully understand its contents.

Tension is in the air both the courtroom and in front of the building.  Ten students with studs and posters in their hands claim they are holding  a spontaneous action ‘in defense of the independence of  Russian courts’. The participants urged the judge to render a guilty verdict to Nadiya Savchenko. Andrey, the self-proclaimed leader of the student mini-rally,  seems to  have learned the text below by heart:

“We just side with the Russian government, we want the killers to be convicted. As far as the issue of war in Donbas is concerned, we remain neutral – so does our state that does not intervene in the situation in Ukraine!”

But when asked whether the students should attend lessons today, Andrey becomes a bit confused: “Well … they have excused us from attending for the ocassion!”

Nadiya Savchenko may resume hunger striking upon 10 days from the verdict’s coming into effect, her lawyer Mark Feygin said.

Karol Łuczka/MS, belsat.eu

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