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Former Ukrainian servicewoman Savchenko’s detention in Russia extended until May 13

The defense said the court’s ruling on detention extension is illegal and plans to appeal it in the Moscow City Court

© Mikhail Pochuyev/TASS

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MOSCOW, February 10. /TASS/. Moscow’s Basmanny Court on Tuesday extended the period of detention for former Ukrainian servicewoman Nadezhda Savchenko until May 13.

"Having heard the reasons of the sides and considered submitted materials, the court reaches the conclusion that an investigator’s request to extend the measure of restraint for Savchenko in the form of detention until May 13 should be granted," Judge Artur Karpov announced the decision.

Investigators say that during combat operations near the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk in the summer of 2014, Savchenko, who was a pilot for a Mil Mi-24 (NATO reporting name: Hind) helicopter gunship, joined the Aidar battalion - a paramilitary group of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry.

She is suspected of involvement in the murder of two Russian journalists near Lugansk in July 2014, as well as of illegally crossing the Russian border. The two criminal cases against her have been integrated.

The defense said the court’s ruling on detention extension is illegal and plans to appeal it in the Moscow City Court.

The period of investigation on Savchenko’s case has also been extended until May 13.

Nadezhda Savchenko has been on a hunger strike for over 60 days. Today she said she has no plans of stopping the strike. "I will continue the hunger strike, which has been lasting for more than 60 days, until I’m taken back to Ukraine or until I die, " she said.

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