28 Hostages of the Kremlyn

28 HOSTAGES OF THE KREMLIN
2. THE CASE OF NADIYA SAVCHENKO
| | The court trial
On 22 September, 2015, in the Donetsk City Court in the Rostov Province, the trial of Nadiya
Savchenko commenced. Its first session was marked by the presence in the courtroom of a
large group of Cossacks, 10 who occupied most of the seats. This was a deliberate ploy aimed at
reducing the number of seats for members of the public and independent observers.
From the outset, the trial was marred by the fact that most motions from the prosecutors
were granted, and, on the other hand, the motions of Nadiya Savchenko and her defender were
rejected. In this regard, Nadiya Savchenko stated that she would go on hunger strike, if her right
to protection continued to be violated.
The cross-examination of witnesses of the prosecution revealed that the majority of testimonies
were repeated verbatim, which may indicate that their testimonies had been contrived by
the investigative bodies. To all specific questions from Nadiya Savchenko’s defence, the witnesses
replied with the standard phrases: “I don’t remember” or “I didn’t notice”; this can generally
be construed as evidence of the false nature of the testimonies.
On 13 October, 2015, Nadiya Savchenko’s sister, Vira, the only witness of the defense, was
denied entry into the territory of Russia without any justification being given. Following a reaction
of the international community, Russia has now lifted the ban.
10
The Savchenko trial is currently ongoing. She faces up to 25 years’ imprisonment. The final verdict
is expected at the beginning of 2015. The counsels of the Ukrainian woman are in no doubt
that she will ultimately be punished with the most severe sentence possible. Nadiya Savchenko
flatly denies her guilt and states that if she is convicted, she will not ask President Vladimir
Putin for clemency.
The case of Nadiya Savchenko is the most famous case involving the persecution of a
Ukrainian in Russia for political reasons. The defenders of the Ukrainian woman have deliberately
opted to publicise the case, although lawyers have been repeatedly threatened with criminal
liability for disclosure of the case file. Due to the close monitoring of the Savchenko case by the
public and the media, unlike in the cases of other Ukrainians, she has managed to avoid torture.
Publicity is the only way to ensure Savchenko’s release given that the outcome of the case has
apparently been decided in advance due to politically motivated charges, and it is only international
pressure that can affect the situation.
10 Cossacks — members of paramilitary formation in modern Russia. Cossacks took an active part in
the occupation of Crimea; they also participated in the war in the east of Ukraine, fighting on the side
of separatists.