Ukrainian President Poroshenko appealed to the UN Secretary-General on Russia’s 22 year sentence against Ukrainian national Nadiya Savchenko

By Ann Charles April 6, 2016

Shown here is Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko addressing the UN General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York. The case of Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko was discussed in a telephone call initiated recently by Ukrainian President Poroshenko with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UN Photo/Cia Pak

On March 23, it was reported at UN Headquarters in New York that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had spoken to the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, on the case of Ukrainian national, Ms. Nadiya Savchenko.

Nadiya Savchenko

Ms. Savchenko was convicted for 22 years, and was scheduled to go to prison on March 22 by the Donetsk City Court in the Rostov-on-Don region of the Russian Federation.

In the telephone call initiated by President Poroshenko to the UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon informed the Ukrainian President that he continued to closely follow Ms Savchenko’s case, including reported breaches of due process and fair trial rights.

He underscored his overall expectation that all UN Member States guarantee due process, fair trial rights, and abide by international standards for the administration of justice.

Ann Charles

Ann Charles is UN Bureau Chief of "Baltic Review" based in New York City. She covers diplomatic activities at United Nations Headquarters in New York and the world body's work in human rights, education, culture, the environment, and tourism, among other global concerns.