Nadezhda Savchenko's defence expects verdict of guilty

At present, the progress of the trial in the criminal case against Nadezhda Savchenko is important for acceleration of political negotiations on her release, the defendant's advocates believe. According to them, the appearance of Vladislav Surkov's assistant in the Nadezhda Savchenko's case says that her fate will be determined by politicians and not by the City Court of Donetsk.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that Savchenko's case is heard at the Donetsk City Court of the Rostov Region of Russia since September 22, 2015. The investigators believe that she corrected the artillery fire, and with the help thereof Ukrainian militaries attacked the settlement of Metallist in Donbas on June 17, 2014, and killed two journalists of the VGTRK (All-Russian TV and Radio Company). Today, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has demanded to release Savchenko.

At the court session held on February 1, Nadezhda Savchenko described the events of June 23, 2014, when, according to the defendant, she was forcibly taken from captivity in Lugansk. According to Nadezhda Savchenko, the car in which she was taken from Lugansk to Russia was driven by political strategist Pavel Karpov, an assistant to Vladislav Surkov, Advisor to the Russian President.

After the court session, advocate Mark Feigin has stated that the progress of the trial indicates that "Savchenko is innocent and that the case against her was fabricated."

"We have learned that members of the Russian presidential administration were involved in actions taken against Savchenko. This is a very important point, since it changes the whole picture: if they have kidnapped her, then they are the people to release her," the advocate told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

Meanwhile, according to the advocate, the defence "cherishes no high hopes concerning the trial." The decision to release Savchenko "will be made by responsible persons properly authorized, i.e., by the Kremlin," said the advocate.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.