21 May 2015, 11:41

Ukrainian ex-pilot Savchenko slapped with new charges — lawyer

Three episodes are being imputed to Savchenko: complicity in the killing of Russian journalists, illegal crossing into Russia and also attempted murder of five people

Nadezhda Savchenko Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS

Nadezhda Savchenko

© Vyacheslav Prokofyev/TASS

MOSCOW, May 21. /TASS/. A preliminary inquiry into the case of former Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko is over, her lawyer Mark Feygin said on Thursday, adding that the suspect has been slapped with new charges, namely attempted murder.

"A preliminary inquiry is over. Familiarization with case materials will be later," he said.

Three episodes are being imputed to Savchenko: complicity in the killing of Russian journalists, illegal crossing into Russia and also attempted murder of five people.

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These people are the citizens who survived the shelling attack against Russian journalists near Luhansk, in eastern Ukraine, he said.

The lawyer said the case materials include 24 volumes. The complainants will familiarize themselves with the case in the coming days. Savchenko and her defense team will familiarize themselves with the case in early June.

There is yet no decision on whether the hearing will be held in Moscow or in Voronezh, in central Russia, he added.

Russian investigators say that Savchenko, the gunner of a Mi-24 helicopter, joined the notorious Aidar battalion during combat operations in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine last June.

Noting the position of a filming crew of the Russian State Broadcasting Company and other civilians, she allegedly reported the data to mortar-equipped personnel who fired on the crew and the civilians. As a result, correspondent Igor Kornelyuk and sound engineer Anton Voloshin were killed.

Posing as a refugee, Savchenko later crossed the Russian border and was detained during a document inspection. Savchenko has been in custody in Russia since July 2014. She does not admit her guilt.

In early May, Moscow’s Basmanny court extended Savchenko’s custody until June 30.

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