The international community has been quick to condemn the 22-year sentence handed out by a Russian court to Ukrainian pilot and parliamentarian Nadiya Savchenko.
In a phone call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on March 22, Vice President Biden condemned the unjust conviction and assured Poroshenko that he will continue to press Russian authorities to abide by Russia’s obligation under the Minsk agreements — measures intended to diplomatically end the conflict in eastern Ukraine — to release Savchenko.
State Department spokesman John Kirby said the sentence shows Russia’s “blatant disregard for the principles of justice.” He noted that Russia had detained Savchenko for nearly two years on baseless charges and has denied her the basic protections of the rule of law.
The U.S. Mission to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe released a video in which several officials, including Ambassador Daniel Baer, call on Russia to release Savchenko.
Others across the globe have urged Russia to release Savchenko via statements and tweets. President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz called directly on Russian President Vladimir Putin to pardon Savchenko.
Dismayed by 22 year verdict for #NadiyaSavchenko. Calling on President Putin to use his constitutional powers to pardon her #FreeSavchenko
— Ex EP President (@EP_PresSchulz) March 23, 2016
European Union High Representative Federica Mogherini pledged to continue urging Russian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Savchenko “on humanitarian grounds, and in keeping with the Minsk agreements.”
Diplomats and foreign ministries of several European countries — including the United Kingdom, Latvia and the Czech Republic — released statements condemning the “unlawful” sentencing of Savchenko.
From British Foreign Minister Philip Hammond:
Guilty verdict against #Savchenko is deeply flawed. #Russia should release her immediately: https://t.co/tWRz4aSJd6
— Philip Hammond (@PhilipHammondUK) March 22, 2016
From Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs:
I strongly condemn unlawful sentencing of Nadiya #Savchenko by Russia, international community must to fight for her release #FreeSachenko
— Edgars Rinkēvičs (@edgarsrinkevics) March 22, 2016
From the foreign ministry of the Czech Republic:
Statement of The Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Nadiya Savchenko casehttps://t.co/KNJfM6h4Hy
— Czech MFA (@CzechMFA) March 22, 2016
International human rights organizations also condemned the verdict. According to Hugh Williamson of Human Rights Watch, Savchenko “did not get a fair trial, and so her conviction is unsound and should not stand.”
Amnesty International’s John Dalhuisen called the guilty verdict “flawed and deeply politicized.”
Join the many voices supporting Nadiya Savchenko by using #FreeSavchenko on Twitter.