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| Russia sentences Ukraine’s ‘Joan of Arc’ to 22 years in prison | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MOSCOW — A Russian court on Tuesday sentenced a Ukrainian helicopter navigator to 22 years in prison in a contentious murder trial that has drawn sharp condemnation from the West. | |
| A judge convicted Lt. Nadiya Savchenko, 34, of directing mortar fire that killed two Russian journalists during pitched fighting in eastern Ukraine in 2014. Savchenko claimed that she was innocent and that pro-Russian separatists abducted her in Ukraine before crossing the border and delivering her to Russian police. | |
| Shortly after the verdict was delivered, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in a statement that he would not recognize the court’s decision, which he called a “shameful show trial.” | Shortly after the verdict was delivered, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said in a statement that he would not recognize the court’s decision, which he called a “shameful show trial.” |
| He also said that he would continue to demand Savchenko’s return to Ukraine, offering a trade in exchange for her freedom. | He also said that he would continue to demand Savchenko’s return to Ukraine, offering a trade in exchange for her freedom. |
| “I am ready to hand over two Russian servicemen detained in our territory for their participation in the armed aggression against Ukraine,” Poroshenko said in a statement, referring to two alleged Russian servicemen arrested for fighting alongside pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine last May. They are being tried on terrorism charges. | |
| Savchenko’s trial became a cause celebre in Ukraine, where she was elected a member of parliament while in Russian custody and awarded the title Hero of Ukraine. She was equally demonized in the Russian news media as a member of a far-right paramilitary battalion who was driven by ethnic hatred for Russian speakers. | |
| As the judge delivered the guilty verdict on Tuesday, Savchenko began singing the Ukrainian national anthem, forcing a court recess. Few expected leniency as the sentencing resumed. | As the judge delivered the guilty verdict on Tuesday, Savchenko began singing the Ukrainian national anthem, forcing a court recess. Few expected leniency as the sentencing resumed. |
| “For us it isn’t really important what figures are in the verdict, whether it was 25 or 30 or 22 years,” said Oleksiy Ryabchyn, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, who joined other Ukrainian lawmakers in traveling to the border town of Donetsk, Russia, where the verdict was delivered. “It was just the end of the judicial stage for releasing Savchenko. Now the political stage begins.” | “For us it isn’t really important what figures are in the verdict, whether it was 25 or 30 or 22 years,” said Oleksiy Ryabchyn, a member of Ukraine’s parliament, who joined other Ukrainian lawmakers in traveling to the border town of Donetsk, Russia, where the verdict was delivered. “It was just the end of the judicial stage for releasing Savchenko. Now the political stage begins.” |
| The office of Russia’s chief prosecutor said Tuesday that it was satisfied with the court’s decision “given the gravity of the acts committed by her.” Prosecutors in the case had asked for 23 years in prison. Savchenko was also fined 30,000 rubles, or $440, for illegally crossing the border from Russia into Ukraine. | |
| U.S. officials, including Secretary of State John F. Kerry, have urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Savchenko as part of the Minsk accord, which was agreed to by Russia, Ukraine, France and Germany and provides a road map to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine. The agreement stipulates the release of all hostages by all parties to the conflict. Russia claims that the agreement does not apply to Savchenko because of the criminal charges against her. | |
| Russian officials have repeatedly said there could be no discussion over Savchenko’s release until the court delivers a verdict. Ukraine has demanded sanctions against Russian law enforcement and judicial officials responsible for Savchenko’s detainment. | Russian officials have repeatedly said there could be no discussion over Savchenko’s release until the court delivers a verdict. Ukraine has demanded sanctions against Russian law enforcement and judicial officials responsible for Savchenko’s detainment. |
| Read more: | |
| Reports: Russian court poised to convict Ukraine’s ‘Joan of Arc’ in deaths of journalists | Reports: Russian court poised to convict Ukraine’s ‘Joan of Arc’ in deaths of journalists |
| Clinton quietly expresses support for Ukrainian pilot jailed by Russia | Clinton quietly expresses support for Ukrainian pilot jailed by Russia |
| Watch: Ukrainian pilot guilty of murder | Watch: Ukrainian pilot guilty of murder |