ODIHR Director Link welcomes Nadiya Savchenko’s release, stresses need to respect rights of remaining prisoners

WARSAW, 25 May 2016 – Michael Georg Link, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, welcomed the release today of Ukrainian pilot and member of parliament, Nadiya Savchenko, who had been held in Russia since 2014.

“I am very happy at the news of the release of Nadiya Savchenko,” Director Link said. “I hope that the end of her ordeal can contribute to the co-operation that will be necessary, in line with the Minsk agreement, to end the conflict in and around Ukraine.”

Savchenko had been imprisoned in Rostov-on-Don, and was released there in exchange for two Russians being held in Ukraine. She was then flown back to Ukraine.

“The serious disputes over the facts surrounding Savchenko’s arrest and detention, as well as concerns about the nature of her trial and conviction, underline the importance of the commitments all OSCE participating States have made in the areas of human rights and fundamental freedoms, including rule of law guarantees, such as the right to a fair trial,” Director Link said. “We must not forget that others remain in detention, and ensuring that these rights are protected for them must play a central role in reaching any settlement.”

Savchenko, a military pilot, was captured in eastern Ukraine in June 2014. She was accused of directing artillery fire that killed two Russian journalists and, on 21 March of this year, was convicted for murder and illegally crossing the Russian border, and was sentenced to 22 years in prison.