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Pilot Savchenko to stand trial in Russia despite her Ukrainian MP status

Savchenko is being held under arrest in Russia over accusations of involvement in the deaths of two Russian journalists

Nadezhda Savchenko Artyom Korotaev/TASS

Nadezhda Savchenko

© Artyom Korotaev/TASS

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Ukrainian pilot Savchenko will be set free if proved she is innocent — Putin

MOSCOW, December 22. /TASS/. The legal proceedings against former Ukrainian servicewoman Nadezhda Savchenko will continue despite her new status of a member of the Ukrainian parliament, an official told TASS.

Savchenko is being held under arrest in Russia over accusations of involvement in the deaths of two Russian journalists.

The source close to investigative authorities said the election of Savchenko as a deputy did not change her status as a suspect in the case. The Russian law stipulates a special legal status for some persons, but among them are only Russian, but not foreign, parliament members.

A Moscow court on Monday will check whether the prolonged arrest of Savchenko is lawful.

Her attorneys said she was a candidate to be included in Ukraine’s delegation for a meeting of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and it could be a reason to drop her case.

Moscow insists that the legal proceedings would continue and a court would rule whether to release her or not, depending on a verdict of guilty of not guilty.

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