Brussels, 26/02/2015 (Agence Europe) - On 26 February, the European Union called for female Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savtchenko to be released “urgently” and “on humanitarian grounds” as Savtchenko has been on hunger strike for 75 days.
On 25 February, a Moscow law court rejected Savtchenko's appeal against her pre-trial detention, which has been extended until 13 May. This rejection “carries heavy consequences, as she has now spent 75 days on hunger strike to protest against her illegal kidnapping in Ukraine and transfer to Russia. Russia bears a responsibility for her very fragile health”, warned the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. She stated that Savtchenko's release would be in keeping with the recently agreed package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements of 12 February, and the commitment to release all hostages and detained persons in relation to the conflict in Ukraine.
The chairperson of the European Parliament's foreign affairs committee, Elmar Brok from Germany, and the leader of the Parliament's delegation for Ukraine, Andrej Plenkovic from Croatia, also called for Savtchenko's “immediate” release, criticising her detention being politically motivated. “Nadia Savtchenko cannot be a bargaining chip in the hands of the Kremlin, and must be released without delay”, they stated. The rejection of the appeal “is appalling, and can only be explained by political motivation since her detention has no legal ground whatsoever”, said Brok and Plenkovic (both from the EPP Group), adding that this rejection is also a contradiction to the spirit of the Minsk agreement. “It is now time for the Russian authorities to fully take their responsibility and deliver on their unconditional commitment to a peaceful settlement”, the two MEPs stated.
Savtchenko's plane was brought down in East Ukraine and she was arrested in June, being accused of involvement in the death of two journalists who died in a mortar attack. According to the Ukrainian government, she was reportedly kidnapped by the pro-Russian separatists and handed over to the Russian authorities. According to Russia, 33-year-old Savtchenko apparently voluntarily crossed the border, passing herself off as a refugee. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)