Ukrainian pilot Savchenko undergoing psychological/psychiatric check – Russian Investigative Committee
Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko charged with complicity in the murder of Russian journalists in south-eastern Ukraine has been taken to a Moscow medical institution for psychological and psychiatric examination, Russian Investigative Committee spokesman Vladimir Markin told Interfax.
"In accordance with Russian legislation, such examinations are a standard procedure used on persons directly involved in armed conflicts and accused of extremely grave crimes punishable by death or life imprisonment," Markin said.
The examiners are tasked with assessing Savchenko's sanity or insanity and "her legal capacity," he said.
"I should say that the appeal filed by Savchenko and her lawyer with the Moscow Basmanny Court regarding the psychological and psychiatric examination does not suspend the validity of this decision by a detective following the Russian criminal procedure laws," Markin said.
The defendant and her lawyer have been notified about the examination according to the established procedure, he added.
"Doctors will assess the psychiatric status of the defendant and present their opinion to the detectives. The defendant and her lawyer will be notified as well," the Investigative Committee spokesman said.
The Main Investigative Department of the Russian Investigative Committee is holding a criminal inquiry into Savchenko's case on the counts of "complicity in the murder of two persons or more in the line of duty committed by a group of individuals with a socially dangerous method and a political hatred motive."
The Russian Investigative Committee says Savchenko crossed into Russia under a refugee disguise and was detained for identification in a populated locality. She was identified as a suspect in the murder of Russian journalists Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin near Luhansk. An official charge of complicity to murder was brought against the pilot on July 9.
Savchenko is being held in a Moscow detention facility. The period of her imprisonment has been extended until October 30.
The Moscow City Court will process the appeal by the defendant's lawyers against her psychiatric examination on Monday.
