The United States condemns the ongoing detention of Nadiya Savchenko for politically-motivated purposes and calls for her immediate release. We note with concern Ms. Savchenko’s fragile health – she has been on a hunger strike since December 18 and resumed a dry hunger strike this week to protest the nature of the unjust judicial proceedings against her and the resulting 22-year sentence on baseless charges. As stipulated in the Minsk agreements, it is imperative that Ms. Savchenko not be held hostage to politics and that she be released to Ukraine without further delay, along with all other Ukrainian citizens held in Russia for politically motivated reasons.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
As delivered by Ambassador Daniel B. Baer to the Permanent Council, Vienna
