Savchenko to be sentenced to 13 years, lawyer says

According to Ilya Novikov, lawyer for pilot Nadezhda Savchenko, who has been unlawfully held in a Russian pre-trial detention centre for over a year, the court will almost certainly sentence her to 13 years in prison, or possibly more.

The lawyer stated this on the "Details of the Week" programme.

"The verdict will be guilty, and it could be around 13 years, or even more. This does not bother or interest us. We understand that the figure does not determine when she will return home," Novikov said. ("The verdict will be guilty, and it could be around 13 years, or even more. This does not bother or interest us. We understand that the figure does not determine when she will return home.")

As the lawyer noted, one should not expect fair justice, as the Russian judicial system has become a farce over the past 20 years. Releasing the woman would put the leadership of Russia at risk.