Didier Reynders calls on Russia to release Nadia Savchenko and other Ukrainian citizens

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders is concerned about Nadia Savchenko, who started a hunger strike eleven weeks ago to protest against her detention in Russia. The health of Mrs. Savchenko is rapidly deteriorating. Just like any other person under the jurisdiction of a member state of the Council of Europe, Mrs. Savchenko should benefit from the guarantees offered by the relevant instruments of the Council of Europe, in particular the European Convention   on Human Rights. Abduction, illegal transfer and illegal detention of persons are unacceptable.

Belgium chairs the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and has strived to allow to the actors involved the largest possible room of manoeuvre in finding a solution acceptable to everyone. Belgium also expected, in vain, the release of Mrs. Savchenko in the context of the agreements concluded in Minsk.

Didier Reynders, in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, calls on Russia to respect its commitments and to release, without delay, Nadia Savchenko, Oleg Sentsov, and all other Ukrainian citizens that are illegally detained in Russia.