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          Ukrainian Pilot Jailed in Russia Launches New Hunger Strike

   by VOA News

   Nadiya Savchenko, a Ukranian military pilot jailed in Russia for
   allegedly killing two Russian journalists, launched a hunger strike
   Wednesday to demand her return to Ukraine, according to her lawyer.

   Savchenko's lawyer Mark Feigin said on Twitter that she started a "dry"
   hunger strike, in which she is refusing both food and water. Feigin
   also posted a letter from Savchenko demanding that she be released by
   Russian authorities and calling for her "immediate return" to Ukraine.

   A Russian court sentenced Savchenko last month to 22 years in prison
   after finding her guilty of killing two journalists during a shelling
   campaign in east Ukraine while Russian-backed rebels fought with the
   Ukrainian government.

   Since the trial began, Savchenko denied the charges against her but
   refused to appeal the court's guilty verdict. She has said she doesn't
   recognize Russia's legal authority, and instead, has chosen to subject
   herself to several hunger strikes.

   The United States has joined other European countries in condemning
   Russia for Savchenko's detention, and she has reached the status of
   hero in Ukraine, where she was elected to parliament despite being
   imprisoned.

   According to a statement on his website, Ukrainian President Petro
   Poroshenko called Savchenko Tuesday to tell her about "the latest steps
   taken for her release," and that "justice will certainly prevail."

   Savchenko has been in detention in Russia for nearly two years.

   Some material for this report came from AP and AFP.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/ukrainian-pilot-jailed-in-russia-laun
   ches-new-hunger-strike/3271794.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/ukrainian-pilot-jailed-in-russia-launches-new-hunger-strike/3271794.html