Lawyer concerned by health of Nadiya Savchenko during hunger strike
ROSTOV-ON-DON. Jan 12 (Interfax) - The health of Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko, accused by Russia of involvement in the killing of Russian journalists, "gave way during her hunger strike", Savchenko's lawyer Nikolai Polozov wrote on his Twitter account.
"I saw Nadiya at the remand center. Today is the 26th day of her hunger strike. She has lost more than 15 kilograms. She is having a difficult time. But she is coping," Polozov said.
The lawyer, however, expressed concern over the health of his client.
"She is having pains in her pancreas and is getting bouts of nausea. However, all persuasions to stop her hunger strikes have been fruitless," he said.
During a session of the Donetsk City Court in Russia's southern Rostov region on December 17, Savchenko said that she would stay on hunger strike until her trial was over.
According to Russian investigators, Ukrainian Armed Forces officer Savchenko was at the base of the Aidar battalion near the village of Metallist in the Slovyanoserbsk district of Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine on June 17, where she was conducting secret surveillance and correcting artillery fire targeting a checkpoint of militants from the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR), as well as civilians sheltering there, among whom were three journalists of Russia's VGTRK broadcaster.
Two Russian reporters - Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin - were killed in the attack. Savchenko denies all charges.
Savchenko has been held in Russian custody since July 2014 over her suspected role in the murder of Kornelyuk and Voloshin in the south-east of Ukraine.
