(25 Feb 2015) A Russian court has refused to release a captured Ukrainian air force officer on Wednesday, ruling she should remain behind bars pending an investigation.
It had been thought that Nadezhda Savchenko would be released after a deal was agreed this month for a ceasefire in fighting in eastern Ukraine, but Moscow's City Court turned down an appeal by Savchenko's lawyers.
Savchenko is awaiting trial on charges of involvement in the killing of two Russian journalists during the conflict.
She denies the charges.
Russia-backed rebels captured Savchenko in June 2014 and she was put into custody in Russia.
She has been on a hunger strike since December 13.
"Now we are getting close to the point when there are days until she can stand on her own legs and until she can no longer live," said Nikolai Polozov, a lawyer for Savchenko.
"If in a short term, if a political decision won't be made about the release of Nadezhda Savchenko from the pre-trial detention centre, then the responsibility for her health and life will lie from top to bottom on the Russian government," Polozov added.
Savchenko has been elected to the Ukrainian parliament whilst in jail and in December parliament named her as one of its delegates to the Strasbourg-based human rights and democracy body, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
The Minsk agreement for a ceasefire in eastern Ukraine agreed this month, called for the exchange of all illegally held prisoners and hostages.
The European Union and the United States have called for her release.
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