You're reading: Savchenko could be exchanged for Alexandrov, Yerofeyev straight after May 18 – lawyer

The lawyer for the Ukrainian pilot and parliamentarian Nadia Savchenko hopes that she will be exchanged for the Russians Alexander Alexandrov and Yevgeny Yerofeyev in the coming weeks.

“We may expect that over the coming weeks – I am not saying something will definitely happen – but so far, all signs are that the exchange will take pace in the next few weeks,” Ilya Novikov told reporters in Kyiv, on April 19.

At the same time, Novikov told the Dozhd television channel that Savchenko cannot be exchanged before May 18.

“The president explained what agreements exist concerning her release. In all likelihood, it will be an exchange for Yerofeyev and Alexandrov, but it cannot happen sooner than 30 days after the verdict, i.e., not before May 18,” the lawyer said.

“I.e., either on [May] 18, or immediately after [May] 18, when all of the papers have been signed, it will become possible to plan the exchange,” Novikov said.