ALDE Group condemns the soviet style judiciary in Savchenko’s case - Hoofdinhoud
The ALDE Group in the European Parliament condemns the breach of international law in the case of Ukrainian pilot, MP and member of the Ukrainian delegation to PACE, Nadia Savchenko, who faces spending 23 years in prison following a Russia's prosecutor request in her case. Nadia Savchenko was charged with complicity in the death of two Russian journalists, after being abducted by Russia-backed militants in Donbas last summer and then being illegally transferred to Russia.
Reacting to the prosecutor’s request in Savchenko’s case, MEP Hans van Baalen (VVD, The Netherlands), ALDE spokesman on Russia and Ukraine, stated:
"It is a shameful and a blatant breach of international law that Nadia Savchenko was abducted in her own country by illegal Russian forces and is now illegally prosecuted in a political process. Nadia Savchenko has 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."
ALDE Group Vice-President, Petras Auštrevičius (Liberal Movement of Lithuania), added:
"We see a cynical face of so-called Russian judiciary. Their decision aims to publicly humiliate Nadiya, who has become a symbol of Ukraine's fight for freedom.Russia intends to use her case to frighten other sons and daughters of Ukraine who stand in defence of their statehood."
ALDE MEP, Marietje Schaake (D66, The Netherlands), continued:
“One year after the murder of Boris Nemtsov, Russians took to the street to ask for justice, not only for Nemtsov, but also for Nadia Savchenko. We amplify their calls, as our concerns about the lack of respect for the rule of law, fair trial standards and human rights in Russia, and the intimidating impact this has on Russian people, is growing every day. We condemn the trumped up charges against her and call for her release and safe return to Ukraine. We urge the Russian authorities not to escalate tensions through this show trial. The EU must ensure diplomats observe all trial proceedings.”