Epic exchange of Hope Savchenko Evgeny Erofeev, Alexander Lukashenko and finally completed. Ukrainka, was found guilty in Russia for the murder of journalists VGTRK Igor Kornelyuk and Anton Voloshin, was transferred to Kiev. And the Russians, convicted in Ukraine for “waging an aggressive war upon a preliminary collusion with a group of people” and “terrorist activity”, sent to Moscow.
Assumptions about their exchange was created a year ago – shortly after the arrest by Ukrainian security forces and Erofeeva Alexandrov on the territory of Luhansk region. But no official confirmation of this has not been up to the present day. Since the morning the media referring to own sources (without mentioning names and positions) was reported about the upcoming exchange. But this information, the lawyers from both sides confirmed only when the process has already exited, and Savchenko, Alexandrov Evrofeev and was on Board of planes flying in different directions.
The word lawyers
“Two years ago I promised the Ukrainians to make every effort to release Nadia. So. I know how to keep his word. She’s on her way home in the Ukraine, – wrote the lawyer, mark Feigin in a network of microblogs Twitter. – Me and Nikolai Polozov had to undergo a severe two-year path for the protection and rescue of Nadia. Our strategy political protection given result”.
Valentin Rybin’s lawyer confirmed that his client Alexander Alexandrov and the defendant his colleagues Evgeny Erofeev left the territory of Ukraine”. “If they were exchanged for Nadiya Savchenko or not, I cannot say,” said he.
How I met
In Kiev’s Borispol airport, a crowd gathered to meet, arrived mother and sister Savchenko and even the President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko. After the plane landed, he immediately wrote on Twitter: “the Presidential plane with the hero of Ukraine Nadezhda Savchenko landed”.
Itself Savchenko briefly spoke to reporters, thanking all, thanks to whom he came back to Ukraine, promising more detail to answer questions during a press conference, which will go on may 26.
But in Russia the return and Erofeeva Alexandrov passed almost unnoticed. In “Vnukovo” they were only waiting for wife Catherine and Julia. They admitted to reporters that “very experienced”, but “believed that there is no one they will not throw”. Yerofeyev and Alexandrov thanked all who all these months had supported them.
Witness their long-awaited meeting began just a few journalists.
Pardon
Only after it all ended, it became known that President of Russia Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to pardon Savchenko. According to the press Secretary head of state Dmitry Peskov, request, proceeding from considerations of humanity, Putin asked the relatives of the victims of the VGTRK journalists.
But the lawyers took it as a recognition of the innocence of their client. Feygin wrote on Twitter: “Hope is the innocence Savchenko gave the founding relatives Korneliuk and Voloshin to appeal to Putin for a pardon Hopes”. According to him, “it is exempted from criminal liability.”
A petition for clemency and Erofeeva Alexandrov President of Ukraine was submitted a few days ago.
It is assumed that final agreement on the exchange of Savchenko and Erofeeva Alexandrov was reached during late-night phone talks in “Norman format”, which was attended by the presidents of Russia, Ukraine and France and German Chancellor.
The reaction in Europe
Interestingly, European politicians are the same words today commented on the exchange.
“This is good news, which we waited a long time and what worked,” said the foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“Nadezhda Savchenko was free and returned to Ukraine. Long-awaited good news that the EU celebrates with her country”, – said the head of EU diplomacy Federica Mogherini.
“We waited a long time for the liberation of Hope Savchenko. This is a good sign and good news for her family, friends and all Ukraine”, – said the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz.
“Looking forward to it soon in Strasbourg. Maybe even at the next session in June, if health will allow it”, – said the President of the parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Pedro Agramunt.
They all hope that Savchenko’s release will give a positive impetus to the process of implementation of the Minsk agreements. But European politicians never speak about what moved the Russians and Alexander Yerofeyev, lasted until the judicial process in Ukraine.
