12:25 25.12.2014

Verkhovna Rada includes pilot Savchenko in PACE delegation

2 min read
Verkhovna Rada includes pilot Savchenko in PACE delegation

The Verkhovna Rada has adopted a parliamentary address to international organizations and inter-parliamentary assemblies regarding the release of Ukrainian pilot and Batkivschyna faction deputy Nadia Savchenko, which also notes that she was included in the Verkhovna Rada's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

A total of 321 MPs supported the respective resolution at a meeting on Thursday.

"The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine states that an MP, a member of the Batkivschyna All-Ukrainian Union faction in the Verkhovna Rada of the eighth convocation, Nadia Savchenko, will represent the Ukrainian parliament out of quota in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, and will be elected a member of the permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to PACE," reads the address.

The Ukrainian parliament also asked international organizations and inter-parliamentary assemblies to take all possible measures needed for the speedy release of Savchenko.

In addition, the Verkhovna Rada called for the release of Oleh Sentsov, Mykola Karpiuk and other citizens of Ukraine who, as a result of Russian aggression against Ukraine, were captured and illegally taken to Russia, where they are being held.

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.

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