Hunger-Striking Savchenko on Trial in Russia Begins Consuming Liquids

Nadezhda Savchenko is currently on trial for the murder of two Russia journalists during the military conflict in eastern Ukraine.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Ukrainian national Nadezhda Savchenko, who is currently on trial in Russia for the murder of two Russian journalists and is on a hunger strike, has begun consuming liquids after Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko asked her to do so, one of her lawyers said Thursday.

"Thank God Nadiya Savchenko stopped ‘dry hunger striking.’ A request from Petro Poroshenko and all of those who support her influenced her decision," Nikolai Polozov wrote on his Twitter account.

Вышел от Нади. Она прекратила сухую голодовку. Письмо президента Порошенко и ответ #FreeSavchenko

Posted by Марк Фейгин on Thursday, 10 March 2016

Came out of a meeting with Nadiya. She ended her dry hunger strike. A letter [to her] from Poroshenko and [her] reply.

Mark Feygin, another lawyer defending Savchenko, posted the letter Poroshenko sent her. The president emphasized his support for her and pleaded that she stop refusing food and liquids for the sake of her health.

Nadezhda Savchenko is suspected of helping to direct artillery fire near the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk on June 17, 2014, which led to the deaths of two Russia journalists, Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin.

Russian prosecutors are seeking a 23-year prison sentence for the Ukrainian national, while her defense team argues that she is innocent. Savchenko has pleaded not guilty. A court ruling in the case is due on March 21-22.