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Ukraine To Seek Council Of Europe Help Over Officer Held In Russia


Kyiv says Nadiya Savchenko was captured by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine and "illegally transferred" to Russia.
Kyiv says Nadiya Savchenko was captured by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine and "illegally transferred" to Russia.

Ukraine's justice minister says Kyiv will appeal to the Council of Europe to help secure the release of a Ukrainian military officer held in Russia.

Pavlo Petrenko said on July 10 that Nadiya Savchenko, a senior lieutenant in the Ukrainian Air Force, was being held "hostage" in Russia.

Savchenko, 31, has been indicted in Russia for her alleged complicity in the killing of two Russian journalists last month near Luhansk. The journalists were covering Ukraine's military offensive against pro-Russian separatists.

A court in the Russian city of Voronezh, where she is being held, has ordered her held in pretrial detention until August 30.

Kyiv says Savchenko was captured by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine and "illegally transferred" to Russia.

Russia's Investigative Committee insists Savchenko was detained within Russia.

With reporting by Interfax
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