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US diplomat says Obama calls on Russian president to release Savchenko under Minsk accords

Published March 16, 2016 at 4:45 pm

Activists sing the Ukrainian state anthem in front of the Russian consulate in Lviv, western Ukraine, during the rally in support of jailed Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko on March 9, 2016.

Photo by AFP

MOSCOW – During his telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Monday, United States President Barack Obama stressed the need for a release of Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko held in custody in Russia, U.S. Embassy spokesman Will Stevens told Interfax.

“President Obama also urged President Putin to release detained pilot and parliamentarian Nadia Savchenko in accordance with the Minsk commitment to release all unlawfully detained persons,” the U.S. diplomat said.