Savchenko in PACE: Putin Should Be Held Accountable for Abductions of Ukrainians

Nadia Savchenko arrived to Strasbourg to take part in a plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) during June 20-24. It is her first participation in PACE sessions after her release from a Russian prison. In an interview to UNIAN [ed.: the text of this hyperlink is in the Russian language], she expected "moving in the same direction with Europe, cohesion, mutual understanding and specific actions."

Speaking during the PACE meeting, Savchenko uttered that Putin is to be held responsible for the abductions of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars from the annexed Crimea. While pardoning her and few more Ukrainians, Putin played out his supremacy rather than took the first step to meet, she believes.

"I was abducted [from Ukrainian territory] – it is a violation of human rights, and someone has to be brought to justice in the European Court," Savchenko claimed. "Likewise, other Ukrainians have been abducted, as now they are detained in Russia. Moreover, Russia continues the abduction of Crimean Tatars from Crimea," she added.

Savchenko stressed that a country which provided Ukraine security assurances under the Budapest Memorandum "stabbed us in the back". "It is impossible that a delegation of a country that does not respect the immunity of a PACE delegate – like it did with me – be returned to the Assembly," she went on.

In the meanwhile, she underlined that she ‘wants peace too’ and will pursue it. As she desires peace and security for all of Europe, she is going to constructively contribute to the Assembly activities, she claims. Savchenko called on PACE to support Ukraine by taking up a firm, consistent and clear attitude. "Only united we win," she wrapped up.

At the same time, Yurii Tandyt, adviser to the Head of State Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), said on ‘112 Ukraine’ TV channel that Savchenko’s speech at PACE would be helpful to free Ukrainian prisoners, Ukrinform reports [ed.: the text of this hyperlink is in the Ukrainian language].

Source: Ukrayinska Pravda