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Ukraine pilot Savchenko vows hunger strike at Russian trial | |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A Ukrainian pilot accused of killing two Russian journalists has vowed to go on hunger strike after being denied a closing statement at her trial. | |
Nadia Savchenko appeared furious after her statement was refused, despite 90 minutes remaining of what is expected to be her last full day in court. | |
Summing up, Ms Savchenko's lawyers described the case as a show trial. | |
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. |
Ms Savchenko has become a heroine in Ukraine where she is a symbol of the country's resistance against Russia. She regularly declared "Glory to Ukraine" to family and supporters in the court. | |
She was elected in absentia to Ukraine's parliament in September 2014, three months after she says she was captured by pro-Russian rebels. | |
The helicopter pilot was 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. | |
She faces 23 years in prison if found guilty. | |
Ms Savchenko appeared on Thursday dressed in a traditional embroidered Ukrainian blouse and watched proceedings from a wooden and metal cage. | Ms Savchenko appeared on Thursday dressed in a traditional embroidered Ukrainian blouse and watched proceedings from a wooden and metal cage. |
Representatives from the embassies of Canada, Sweden and the EU are monitoring her trial, along with her younger sister, Vera, and a few friends. | |
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. | 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. |
They say she acted as a spotter, deliberately directing mortar fire at the journalists out of "hatred" for all Russians. | They say she acted as a spotter, deliberately directing mortar fire at the journalists out of "hatred" for all Russians. |
She is also charged with the attempted murder of the team's cameraman - who was not injured - and illegally crossing the border into 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. |
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. | 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. | Telephone records show she was captured before the journalists were killed, the defence argues. |
The judge is expected later on Thursday to announce a date on which he will deliver his sentence. | |