You're reading: Savchenko to continue hunger strike – defense attorney

MOSCOW - Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko, imprisoned in Russia on charges of abetting the killing of Russian journalists in Donbas, is set to extend her hunger strike beyond Dec. 22, the date set for hearing the appeal against the Moscow City Court's decision to extend her custody, her defense lawyer Mark Feygin said.

“This morning Nadia Savchenko said she is not going to stop her hunger strike after Dec. 22,” Feygin wrote on Twitter on Dec. 18.

On Dec. 12 Feygin said that Savchenko had asked the prison administration to allow her to be examined by an otolaryngologist as she feared losing hearing. Having been denied the necessary medical assistance, the pilot announced a hunger strike

It was reported earlier that Savchenko, a 33-year-old pilot, was fighting with the Aidar volunteer battalion in eastern Ukraine when she was captured by militants in June near the town of Schastia, a suburb of Luhansk. It was stated on July 8 that she was being held at the Voronezh pre-trial detention facility in Russia.

On July 9, Russia indicted her for complicity in murder. Savchenko has rejected all charges. Ukraine is demanding her release.

Savchenko was elected as a Verkhovna Rada deputy representing the Batkivschyna Party at the end of October.

On Oct. 27, the Moscow Basmanny Court extended Savchenko’s detention until the end of the investigation (Feb. 13, 2015).