Savchenko List

‘The Savchenko List’ was first presented at a press conference of experts of the Open Dialogue Foundation in Kyiv on 13 February, 2015. On 22 April, 2015, the resolution supporting the list was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. On 8 March, 2016, the initiative was supported internationally by 57 Members of the European Parliament, with Petras Auštrevičius and Rebbeka Harms at the helm.

The introduction of personal sanctions against those responsible for the persecution of the Ukrainian aviator has also been supported by representatives of the Russian opposition, including Garri Kasparov, Bożena Ryńska, Andrey Illarionov, Yevgeniy Chychvarkin, Alfred Kox and Lev Ponomariov during the Free Russia Forum in Vilnius, held between 9-10 March, 2016.

On 9 March, 2015, five European foreign ministers appealed to F. Mogherini, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs, urging her to bring about the release of Savchenko and introduction of sanctions against Russia.

During demonstrations of solidarity with Nadia Savchenko, organised by the Euromaidan-Warsaw and the ODF at the Russian Embassy in Warsawon 9 March, 2016, nearly 300 people signed a petition for the immediate release of Savchenko and the introduction of sanctions. On the same day, the Polish Sejm unanimously adopted a resolution demanding that the Russian authorities release the Ukrainian heroine.

President of Russia, Vladimir Putin tops ‘The Savchenko List’. The list also includes Russian policy makers of the highest rank and people directly involved in the abduction, imprisonment and prosecution of the Ukrainian woman as well as forced psychiatric observation and the subsequent farce of a court trial.

On 25 May, 2016, Savchenko was released from the Russian prison and transported to Ukraine in exchange for two Russian GRU soldiers, convicted in Ukraine. The release of Nadia, however, does not end the battle for the imposition of sanctions on those responsible for her kidnapping, arrest and illegal detention.