MOSCOW - The Basmanny Court of Moscow has extended the custody period for the Ukrainian woman Nadia Savchenko, who is accused in Russia of abetting the murder of Russian journalists, until June 30 at the investigator's request, an Interfax correspondent reported.
The investigator told the court that a large amount of investigative procedures have yet to be carried out, namely: 15 forensic tests, a large number of material evidence to be investigated and added to the case files, and the questioning of witnesses.
The investigator stressed that Savchenko is charged with a very serious crime. He also said that the accused is skilled in using small arms.
For its part, Savchenko’s defense team categorically objected to the custody extension. Her lawyer, Mark Feygin, said that in the ten months that Savchenko spent in custody, no new evidence emerged of her involved in the crimes.
He also pointed out to the court that his client is a Ukrainian delegate to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and has the immunity which prohibits any criminal prosecution against her. “Savchenko must be released immediately,” he said.
Feygin also asked the court to consider the possibility of replacing Savchenko’s custody with a house arrest or any other option not involving incarceration.
