Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs concerned over Savchenko's health
The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed deep concern over the deterioration of Nadiya Savchenko’s health after 4 days on a dry hunger strike.
"Ukraine strongly protests that Ukrainian doctors and consular officials are not allowed to visit the Ukrainian pilot, [and] that the Russian political leadership ignores numerous complaints of world leaders, [and] the Ukrainian MFA, concerning this issue, [as well as the complaints of] human rights organizations and public leaders,” a statement issued by the Ukrainian Ministry read.
"The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically demands that Ukrainian doctors and consuls be allowed to see Savchenko and to ensure an unconditional return of Nadiya Savchenko to Ukraine,” the statement added.
The Ukrainian Ministry also noted that Russia bears direct responsibility for Savchenko’s life and health. The MFA also called on the leaders of the world’s democratic countries to put more pressure on the Kremlin to compel the Russian authorities to implement the Minsk Agreements and release all Ukrainian political prisoners being held in Russia.
Last month, a Russian court found Savchenko guilty of complicity in the killing of two Russian journalists and sentenced her to 22 years in prison.
The judge in the Russian town of Donetsk said Savchenko had been driven by "political hatred".
"A propaganda machine is at work here, absent of justice and freedom," Savchenko’s lawyer wrote on Twitter.
It is widely believed that Savchenko was in fact captured by Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) separatists in eastern Ukraine and was illegally transported to Russia, where the case was fabricated against her.
Savchenko was elected to the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada in absentia in October of 2014 and became an official delegate of the PACE several months later.
Rallies in support of her immediate release have taken place in Ukraine, Russia and other countries around the World, and many Western leaders consider the case to be little more than a show trial.