There are political prisoners in Russia, but Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko is not one of them, Head of the Russian Presidential Council for Civil Society and Human Rights Mikhail Fedotov has stated.

"There are political prisoners. Those who are prosecuted for crimes committed in the sphere of political activity," Fedotov said in an interview with the Echo of Moscow (Ekho Moskvy) radio station.

He added the Council for Civil Society and Human Rights does not keep a list of political prisoners.

"There is the concept of a politically motivated decision. This is the base to speak about political prisoners, or if a person suffered for his beliefs, he can thus be considered as such. But criminal laws do not contain such a notion, therefore we cannot formally talk about their number," he said.

Asked whether Savchenko is a political prisoner, Fedotov said "he would not call her a political prisoner."

"But it is clear for me that this is a political case," the expert added.