On March 22, as was expected, the court in Donetsk, Rostov Oblast found the Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko guilty of the murder of two Russian journalists. Any arguments of defense were completely ignored. Savchenko was given 22 years of imprisonment in a penal colony. Additionally, the court verdict assigned her an additional fine for “illegal crossing” of the Russian border – 30,000 rubles. During the sentencing, the judge announced breaks before declaring specific numbers for the length of imprisonment and the fine. In response to these breaks, the Ukrainian pilot was singing “The tyre burned, blazed,” as bailiffs led people out of the courtroom.
The Day turned for a commentary to Mykola SIRY, candidate in juridical sciences, senior researcher at the Volodymyr Koretsky Institute of State and Law. After the verdict has been announced, what can Ukrainian authorities do to save Savchenko from Russia.
REUTERS photo
“Certainly, in any case, our government should not reduce the pressure, but rather increase it at all levels in order to have Russia release Nadia Savchenko to Ukraine. I think that Russia would agree to only one procedure – extradition of the sentenced person for incarceration in Ukraine. This is a procedure we must agree upon, and even demand it. The Russian Federation is restricted from any actions on the case for ten days after the court decision comes into force, which are given for the appeal. At the state level it should be recommended to finish the appeal procedure on the Savchenko case, which would provide an opportunity to put the proper emphasis and once again state our demands.
“As for the universal prisoner exchange, Russia has no plans for that, just like it has no plans to implement the Minsk agreements. Hostages are an extremely important part of today’s politics for Russia, and Russia is not willing to give it up. So, we can hardly expect the exchange of everyone on everyone, including Savchenko. But this procedure is concerning those who have been detained in Ukraine. But after the verdict, Savchenko has a different status, and in the eyes of the Russian authorities she is not accounted for in the Minsk agreements. And the Russian court had confirmed in its verdict that she was detained in Russia, although this is not true.
“We all strive to multiply the worldwide efforts to release Savchenko. And on that multiplication depends her release. Based on Savchenko’s position, she firmly maintains her innocence, and that Putin should release her outright, and will demand it by all means available. The role of Ukraine is to continue the dialog, and that includes letting Savchenko know that the struggle for her liberation may be prolonged. And one should account for their strength to fight all the time.”
* Olena Kondratiuk, who was at the hearing, wrote on her Facebook page: “As I asked: how is your health, dear?, Nadia replied: “I am still going to fly! :)”
