23/03/2015 Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons
The Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) today issued the following statement concerning the continued detention of its member Nadiya Savchenko (Ukraine, EPP/CD) by the Russian Federation:
“The committee takes note of the fact that Nadiya Savchenko, a Ukrainian parliamentarian, remains in the custody of the authorities of the Russian Federation. It notes that on 16 March 2015, following her omission from the exchange of prisoners under the Minsk agreements, she resumed her long-standing hunger strike, at the risk of grave consequences to her health.
The committee recalls that Ms Savchenko is a member of the delegation of Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly and has been designated a member of the committee. In accordance with the General Agreement on Privileges and Immunities of the Council of Europe, Ms Savchenko should have been permitted to participate in the committee’s meeting on 23 March 2015.
Also recalling its statement adopted on 26 January, as well as Parliamentary Assembly Resolution 2028 and Resolution 2034 (2015) and President Brasseur’s statements of 21 January, 12 February and 3 March, the committee calls upon the Russian Federation to release Ms Savchenko”.