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Ukraine pilot Savchenko to make final address in Russian court Russia trial of Ukraine pilot Savchenko enters its last day
(about 11 hours later)
A Ukrainian helicopter pilot accused of involvement in the killing of two Russian journalists is due to make her final address to a court in Donetsk. A Ukrainian pilot accused of killing of two Russian journalists is in court in Russia for what is expected to be the last full day of her trial.
Nadia Savchenko's speech is expected to be characteristically defiant and highly political, says BBC Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford. Defence lawyers summing up on behalf of Nadia Savchenko described the case as a show trial, arguing that she had never had any chance of justice.
Ms Savchenko is also due to address the court later.
She denies directing artillery fire from a Ukrainian volunteer battalion at the Russian journalists in June 2014.She denies directing artillery fire from a Ukrainian volunteer battalion at the Russian journalists in June 2014.
Her lawyers say the case is political and a guilty verdict is inevitable. Ms Savchenko has become a heroine in Ukraine where she is a symbol of the country's resistance against Russia. She regularly declares "Glory to Ukraine" to family and supporters in the court.
They are pinning their hopes on some kind of political deal between Moscow and Kiev, our correspondent adds. She was elected in absentia to the Ukraine's parliament in September 2014, three months after she says she was captured by pro-Russian rebels.
The prosecution, which is seeking a 23-year prison sentence, said on Wednesday it had proven Ms Savchenko's guilt "beyond doubt" as the five-month trial in a Russian court in Donetsk nears its end. The helicopter pilot is being tried in a cramped courtroom in the small Russian town of Donetsk, close to the border with Ukraine and not far from the far larger Ukrainian city of Donetsk.
They said Ms Savchenko, acting as a spotter, had deliberately directed mortar fire at the journalists in June 2014 out of "hatred" for all Russians. She faces 23 years in prison if found guilty and is likely to give an impassioned defence when she testifies to the court.
The defence argues that she had already been captured by pro-Russian rebels at that point and so is innocent. Ms Savchenko appeared on Thursday dressed in a traditional embroidered Ukrainian blouse and watched proceedings from a wooden and metal cage.
The Ukrainian government says Ms Savchenko was abducted by pro-Russian separatists and handed over to the Russian authorities. Representatives from the embassies of Canada, Sweden and the EU are monitoring her trial, along with her younger sister Vera and a few friends.
But Russia says she crossed the border illegally, posing as a refugee, before being detained. The prosecution argues that it has proven her guilt in relation to the murders of two Russian state TV journalists during fighting in eastern Ukraine.
Nadia Savchenko openly accuses prosecutors of lying and regularly declares "Glory to Ukraine" to family and supporters in court. They say she acted as a spotter, deliberately directing mortar fire at the journalists out of "hatred" for all Russians.
She often wears traditional Ukrainian dress during court appearances and back in Ukraine has become a symbol of resistance to Russia. She is also charged with the attempted murder of the team's cameraman - who was not injured - and illegally crossing the border into Russia.
But the trial is a reminder that the conflict between Ukraine's government and pro-Russian rebels is still far from resolved, despite a peace deal, our correspondent adds. Her defence argues that the evidence against her does not stack up. They say she was abducted by pro-Russian separatists, handed over to the Russian authorities and smuggled across the border by her captors.
Telephone records show she was captured before the journalists were killed, the defence argues.
The BBC's Sarah Rainsford - who is in court - tweeted a quote from Ms Savchenko's lawyer complaining that "when [the] evidence doesn't add up, [the] prosecution dismisses it, claiming [the] witness [is] confused.
"When it matches, [it] claims [it is] proof it's true."
The judge is expected later on Thursday to announce a date in which he will deliver his sentence.