Russian court sentences Ukraine’s Savchenko to 22 years in jail

A Russian court decided on 22 March 2016 to sentence Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko to 22 years in jail after finding her guilty of involvement in the killing of two Russian journalists during the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Ms Savchenko became an national hero in Ukraine and showed a defiant attitude as the verdict was read out. She denied having anything to do with the deaths of the journalists.

The sentence was likely to further inflame the relations between Russia and Ukraine. The European Union had in the past called for the pilot's release.

• Primary Source

The Moscow Times, 22.03.16: Savchenko Convicted to 22 Years in Prison: Court Diary http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/savchenko-convicted-to-22-years-in-prison-court-diary/563150.html

Kyiv Post, 22.03.16: Russian court finds Savchenko guilty of complicity in murder https://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/russia/russian-court-finds-savchenko-guilty-of-murder-410495.html

Ukraine Today, 22.03.16: Kyiv calls Savchenko trial 'kangaroo court', says it is ready to do prisoner swap deal http://uatoday.tv/politics/poroshenko-offers-putin-to-swap-savchenko-for-two-russian-soldiers-615749.html

Deutsche Welle, 22.03.16: Russian court sentences Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko to 22 years for murder http://dw.com/p/1IHcf

Ukraine Today, 22.03.16: Ukraine slams Russian court sentencing Nadiya Savchenko after sham trial http://uatoday.tv/politics/ukraine-slams-court-sentencing-of-nadiya-savchenko-after-sham-trial-615869.html

Sputnik International, 22.03.16: Ukrainian Pilot Savchenko Sentenced to 22 Years in Jail http://sptnkne.ws/aTjN

BBC News, 22.03.16: Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko given 22-year sentence http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35873683

Euronews, 22.03.16: Russia jails Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko for 22 years http://www.euronews.com/2016/03/22/russian-court-sentences-ukrainian-pilot-nadiya-savchenko-to-22-years-in-prison/

RT, 22.03.16: Ukrainian pilot Savchenko gets 22 years in Russian prison, sings through reading of final verdict https://www.rt.com/news/336677-ukrainian-savchenko-sentence-jail/

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