Ukrainian Pilot Nadia Savchenko Sentenced to 22 Years in Russia

A court in Russia has found Ukrainian military pilot Nadia Savchenko guilty and sentenced her to 22 years in prison along with a fine of 30,000 rubles (approximately $440). According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, a judge in Donetsk, southern Russia, announced at the end of this controversial trial that the period of Ms. Savchenko's detention since June 30, 2014, would count as part of her prison sentence. The court session was disrupted shortly before the verdict when Nadia Savchenko began to sing the Ukrainian national anthem. The Russian prosecutor's office issued a statement expressing satisfaction with the ruling. The Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing an unnamed Russian law enforcement official, that if the Ukrainian government formally requests it, Nadia Savchenko may be handed over to Ukraine 10 days after the ruling becomes official. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister tweeted that such a ruling was "predictable" and marks the beginning of a new step in the fight for Nadia Savchenko's freedom. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko stated that his government is willing to exchange two Russian nationals captured in the eastern Ukraine conflict, who are likely members of the Russian military, for Ms. Savchenko. He also called for individual sanctions against the judge and prosecutors involved in Ms. Savchenko's case and other officials who have been involved in the trials of other Ukrainian citizens, including filmmaker Oleg Sentsov. Ms. Savchenko's defense attorney stated after the court session that he guarantees his client will not serve her sentence in Russian prisons, adding, "She will be free." Ms. Savchenko's lawyers also mentioned that she plans to start a dry hunger strike in the coming days. The conviction of Nadia Savchenko includes 18 years in prison for involvement in the deaths of two Russian journalists during the eastern Ukraine conflict in June 2014, plus an additional 10 years for involvement in the attempted killing of Russian civilians in the same incident. The fine pertains to illegal crossing of the Russian border. Russian officials claim she is responsible for shelling a checkpoint of pro-Russian Ukrainian militants, resulting in the deaths of two Russian journalists. The prosecution had requested a 23-year prison sentence for Ms. Savchenko. The judge did not accept the defense attorney's arguments regarding her political immunity. Nadia Savchenko is a member of the Ukrainian parliament and part of the Ukrainian delegation to the Council of Europe. She has denied the charges and does not recognize Russian courts as fair. During the court session, she wore a shirt with patriotic Ukrainian symbols and did not rise from her seat in defiance of court rules while speaking and when the judge issued the verdict. The controversial trial of Ms. Savchenko began in September 2015. She has gone on hunger strikes multiple times in protest of her trial. The spokesperson for the Ukrainian president stated that the country will continue to pressure Russia for Ms. Savchenko's release.