Today, a Moscow court rejected another appeal from Nadiya Savchenko against her illegal detention by the Russian Federation, introduced in reference to her immunity as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a decision earlier today in Strasbourg by an overwhelming majority calling for her urgent release.
Ms Savchenko has now been on hunger strike for 82 days. After such an extended period of time, she faces permanent damage to her health, or death. The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has called again for her urgent release to preserve her life.
Once again, I add my voice to all of those calling on the Russian authorities to urgently release Ms Savchenko on humanitarian grounds. I also call for the release of Oleh Sentsov and all other illegally detained Ukrainian citizens. This would be in keeping with the recently agreed “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.
