A lawyer for Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko, Ilya Novikov, said during the presentation of cases in the Donetsk City Court, Rostov region, on Thursday that Savchenko's defense team will not appeal her verdict, an Interfax correspondent has reported from the courtroom.

"The reason why we will not appeal the verdict is not that Nadia is guilty. We have no reason to believe that Nadia has any chance as far as these charges are concerned. In my opinion, I and my colleagues have managed to achieve everything we wanted. Certainly, you will issue a guilty verdict. I have no doubt about that. The entire world is following this trial today. Diplomats and embassy officials are present at this hall. This case will not go unnoticed," Novikov said.

In the course of this year, "we will manage to secure Savchenko's release with the support of organizations that are friendly towards us and Ukraine," he added.