Brussels, 18/06/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 17 June, the European Commission again called - this time “firmly” - for the release of Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko, after 365 days of detention in Russia.
The spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stated that Savchenko's release “would be in keeping with the 'package of measures for the implementation of the Minsk agreements' and the commitment to release all hostages and detained persons related to the conflict in Ukraine”.
Savchenko was captured in Eastern Ukraine by Russian-backed separatists a year ago. According to Mogherini's spokesperson, Savchenko's “fundamental” right to a fair trial has been refused on several occasions. Last week a Russian court decided to further extend her provisional detention until 30 September. “Whereas the investigation conducted by the Russian authorities has been closed for months, her trial has not been announced yet, thereby unnecessarily prolonging her custody”, the spokesperson stated.
“365 days of detention, most of them in Russia, have severely affected her health”, Mogherini's spokesperson added. Savchenko has become weak through a hunger strike that she herself is conducting in order to protest against her detention - a detention she believes is politically motivated. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)