03/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - ALDE condemns Soviet-style trial of Nadia Savchenko. On Thursday 3 March, the ALDE Group in the European Parliament condemned the “Soviet-style justice” in the arrest and trial of pilot and Ukrainian MP Nadia Savtchenko (see EUROPE 11338). The Russian prosecutor has called for a 23-year prison sentence for Savchenko, who is accused of complicity in the deaths of two Russian journalists killed by mortar fire. Marietje Schaake (Netherlands) condemned the “trumped-up charges” against Savchenko. “We urge the Russian authorities not to escalate tensions through this show trial. The EU must ensure diplomats observe all trial proceedings”, she stated in an ALDE Press release. Her colleague Hans van Baalen called for Savchenko to be released and repatriated to Ukraine “as soon as possible”. “If not, the EU should consider political and economic sanctions in order to make Russia understand that the international community cannot accept this Soviet-style behaviour”, he added. (CG)