The United States has condemned detention of the Ukrainian citizens in Russia, including recently-elected parliamentarian Nadia Savchenko and film director Oleh Sentsov.
“We condemn Russian detention of Ukrainian hostages including Rada member
Nadiya Savchenko & film producer Oleg Sentsov in violation of Minsk
[Agreement],” U.S. Ambassador in Kyiv Geoffrey Pyatt tweeted on Dec. 30
morning.
It was reported earlier that Savchenko, a 33-year-old pilot, was fighting
with the Aidar volunteer battalion in eastern Ukraine when she was captured by
militants in June near the town of Schastia, a suburb of Luhansk. It was stated
on July 8 that she was being held at the Voronezh pre-trial detention facility
in Russia.
On July 9, Russia indicted her for complicity in murder. Savchenko has denied
all charges. Ukraine is demanding her release.
Savchenko was elected as a Verkhovna Rada deputy representing the
Batkivschyna Party at the end of October.
Earlier, Batkivschyna faction leader Yulia Tymoshenko proposed that the
Verkhovna Rada adopt a resolution delegating Savchenko to PACE. Granting her
diplomatic status would prevent Russia from keeping her in custody.
