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Kremlin calls meddling in Ukraine ex-pilot Savchenko trial ‘unacceptable’

Calls to introduce sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russians over Ukraine ex-pilot Savchenko trial are unacceptable, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov

© Sergei Fadeichev/TASS

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MOSCOW, March 9. /TASS/. Interference in trial of Ukrainian ex-pilot Nadezhda Savchenko and calls to introduce sanctions against Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russians are unacceptable, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"We cannot accept attempts of meddling in trials that are held in this country in strict compliance with the current Russian legislation," Peskov told reporters, adding that this also concerns the Savchenko case.

"Any kind of interference here is unacceptable," he stressed.

Peskov said Russia has "certain procedures that are being implemented now." "As the trial is ongoing, we also believe that any comments here are in fact impossible and unacceptable."

Members of the European Parliament urged EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini in a letter signed on Tuesday to introduce sanctions against the Russian president and 28 other individuals.

The call comes in reaction to the trial of Savchenko that is now underway in southern Russia. The verdict is expected to be announced on March 21-22, the court said.

Russia’s prosecutor has earlier called for a 23-year prison term and a fine of 100,000 rubles ($1,400) for Savchenko. She is charged with murder, attempted murder and illegal border crossing.

Investigators say Savchenko joined the Aidar militant battalion and in June 2014 conducted covert surveillance and direction of artillery bombarding targeting a checkpoint in the much-troubled Lugansk region. The settlement was full of civilians, including three Russian journalists.

Two Russian journalists - Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin - from the All-Russian Television and Radio Broadcasting Network (VGTRK) died in the shelling.

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