mandag 7. mars 2016
Svetlana Alexievich And 270 Other World Leaders Call For Savchenko’s Release
PHOTO: REUTERS
More than 270 prominent Western figures appealed to the European leaders.
The authors of the letter are Nobel laureates, writers, scientists,
politicians, public figures, philosophers, artists, who represent at
least 20 countries of the world, European Truth writes.Among the signatories of the appeal with the demand to release Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko is Svetlana Alexievich (a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Belarus), Tomas Venclova (a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Lithuania-the USA), Elfriede Jelinek (a winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Austria), Markus Mekel (the former German Foreign Minister), Guy Verhofstadt (the President of the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe in the European parliament, the former Prime Minister of Belgium), Viktor Shenderovich (a writer, Russia), Agnieszka Holland (a film director, Poland), Michael Epstein ( a professor of the Department of Cultural Theory and Russian Literature at Emory University, Atlanta (the USA) and others.
They called on European leaders to “take emergency measures for the immediate and unconditional release of 34-year-old Nadezhda Savchenko, a Ukrainian citizen, kidnapped and placed in jail for 20 months in the Russian Federation” and concluded that “our ability to save her life tests the effectiveness of international diplomacy and our commitment to European values.”
The initiative of collecting signatures for an open letter has been running by a group of Polish and Ukrainian intellectuals, more than 5000 signatures were collected within one day.
Everyone can join the initiative – you can sign an open letter at the address: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/free-savchenko-open-letter-to-european-leaders.
As you know, Nadezhda Savchenko announced a waterless hunger strike on March 3 after the court had not given her to come up with the last word, and rescheduled the hearing for March 9.
With that Savchenko resists to force feeding, however, as lawyers explained, she cannot be allowed to die under the Russian law.
The day before, rallies in her support were held in some Ukrainian and European cities.
Kilde: http://charter97.org/en/news/2016/3/7/194122/
This morning, Ukrainian consuls met Ukrainian pilot Nadiia Savchenko.
This morning, Ukrainian consuls met Ukrainian pilot Nadiia Savchenko.
This is reported by Censor.NET's correspondent, who is currently in Novocherkassk, the Rostov region of the Russian Federation.According to the reporter, Ukrainian consuls Oleksandr Kovtun and Vitalii Moskalenko visited the Ukrainian pilot in the 3rd remand prison of Novocherkassk, the Rostov region.
Consul General Moskalenko said that it is visible that Nadiia has been on dry hunger strike since March 3. "We were trying to talk her out of this, prove, argue that she has won and needs to save her life. ... But she refused, said she was ready to do or die and will be on hunger strike until the end," Moskalenko said.
According to him, Savchenko hopes to be able to say her last plea in the court on March 9. She expects to be returned to Ukraine on her terms now, Moskalenko said, which are either release or absolution.
"Logically, she should be pardoned, because she had not done what she is accused of. This is obvious to everyone, including prosecutors and judges. But as long as the process is political, no one doubts that she would be convicted," Moskalenko said.
Consul General noted that they informed Savchenko of all meetings and demonstrations for her support in Ukraine and the world.
"Of course, this is a support for her. But the person on dry hunger strike is short of emotions. She was pleased," he said. Source: http://en.censor.net.ua/n377924 Source: http://en.censor.net.ua/n377924
søndag 6. mars 2016
'I Will Return To Ukraine, Dead Or Alive' -- Savchenko's Unspoken Last Words In Russian Court
March 04, 2016
The trial of Nadia Savchenko, a
Ukrainian pilot whose jailing in Russia has been condemned by Kyiv and
the West, is drawing to a close. Savchenko, 34, is charged with
complicity in the killing of two Russian journalists who died in
shelling in the conflict in eastern Ukraine. She denies guilt and says
she was seized in Ukraine and illegally transported to Russia.
Savchenko had been expected to make her final statement March 3, but the trial was abruptly adjourned until March 9 after bitter exchanges in the courtroom. The prepared text, which the hunger-striking Savchenko wrote out by hand, was posted on her Facebook page after the hearing. Here is RFE/RL’s English translation.
Kilde: http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-savchenko-trial-letter-russia/27589461.html
Savchenko had been expected to make her final statement March 3, but the trial was abruptly adjourned until March 9 after bitter exchanges in the courtroom. The prepared text, which the hunger-striking Savchenko wrote out by hand, was posted on her Facebook page after the hearing. Here is RFE/RL’s English translation.
I accept neither guilt, nor the
verdict, nor the Russian court. In the case of a guilty verdict there
will be no appeal. I want the whole democratic civilized world to
realize that Russia is a third-world country, with a totalitarian regime
and a petty tyrant-dictator, where human rights and international law
are spat upon.
It is an absurd situation when those who abduct people subject them to torture then act as if they have a right to judge them! How can one talk about a fair trial? In Russia, there are no trials or investigations -- only a farce played out by Kremlin puppets. And I find it superfluous to waste time in my life participating in it!
And so there will be no appeal, but this is what will happen: After the verdict I will continue my hunger strike for 10 more days, until the verdict comes into force -- and this is regardless of the translation [of the verdict] into Ukrainian, because they can drag that out for a long time, too. In 10 days I will begin a dry hunger strike [refusing both food and water], and then Russia will have no more than 10 days to return me to Ukraine, where they abducted me! And I don’t care how they justify it! I have heard that [Ukrainian President] Petro Oleksiyovych Poroshenko is quite adept at diplomacy. I hope his diplomatic skills will suffice to reach agreement in Russia with a certain idiot -- after all, he promised my mother that I would be home in time for the May holidays of 2015.
And while they are bargaining over me, my life will be draining away and Russia will return me to Ukraine in any case -- it will return me, dead or alive!
Throughout these 10 days, day and night, my sister will be standing at the jail gates, and she will wait and see whether they release me or not. And if you put her in jail, my mother will come and take her place. She is 77, will you put her in jail, too? In that case my friend will take her place, and after her -- Ukrainian after Ukrainian! And remember -- you can’t shove everybody in here. And while my compatriots are standing there, simple, honest, and decent Russians living in nearby homes will bring them hot tea, sandwiches, and warm blankets, because each one of them understands that tomorrow their child could be in my place, in this prison of all peoples called Russia!
That is how Maidans (revolutions) start! Do you need that?! You fear it like the plague! So it is better for the Kremlin to return me to Ukraine as soon as possible, and alive!
And those in the world with democratic values ought to learn their history lessons before it's too late and remember that there was a time when Europe was tolerant toward Hitler, and America wasn’t decisive enough, and this led to World War II. Putin is a tyrant with imperial manners and a Napoleon and Hitler complex put together. The [Russian] bear doesn’t understand human language, he understands only the language of force. Therefore, unless we become more decisive and determine the right priorities on time, we will soon have World War III.
And I, as a politician now, won’t shake Russia's hand in the political arena. It is not right to extend a hand to someone who kept you in handcuffs and your people in chains. But every time I make a political decision, I will always think how it would affect ordinary people, both in Ukraine and Russia. Because in Russia, in spite of everything, there are many honest, kind, and decent people.
It is an absurd situation when those who abduct people subject them to torture then act as if they have a right to judge them! How can one talk about a fair trial? In Russia, there are no trials or investigations -- only a farce played out by Kremlin puppets. And I find it superfluous to waste time in my life participating in it!
And so there will be no appeal, but this is what will happen: After the verdict I will continue my hunger strike for 10 more days, until the verdict comes into force -- and this is regardless of the translation [of the verdict] into Ukrainian, because they can drag that out for a long time, too. In 10 days I will begin a dry hunger strike [refusing both food and water], and then Russia will have no more than 10 days to return me to Ukraine, where they abducted me! And I don’t care how they justify it! I have heard that [Ukrainian President] Petro Oleksiyovych Poroshenko is quite adept at diplomacy. I hope his diplomatic skills will suffice to reach agreement in Russia with a certain idiot -- after all, he promised my mother that I would be home in time for the May holidays of 2015.
And while they are bargaining over me, my life will be draining away and Russia will return me to Ukraine in any case -- it will return me, dead or alive!
Throughout these 10 days, day and night, my sister will be standing at the jail gates, and she will wait and see whether they release me or not. And if you put her in jail, my mother will come and take her place. She is 77, will you put her in jail, too? In that case my friend will take her place, and after her -- Ukrainian after Ukrainian! And remember -- you can’t shove everybody in here. And while my compatriots are standing there, simple, honest, and decent Russians living in nearby homes will bring them hot tea, sandwiches, and warm blankets, because each one of them understands that tomorrow their child could be in my place, in this prison of all peoples called Russia!
That is how Maidans (revolutions) start! Do you need that?! You fear it like the plague! So it is better for the Kremlin to return me to Ukraine as soon as possible, and alive!
And those in the world with democratic values ought to learn their history lessons before it's too late and remember that there was a time when Europe was tolerant toward Hitler, and America wasn’t decisive enough, and this led to World War II. Putin is a tyrant with imperial manners and a Napoleon and Hitler complex put together. The [Russian] bear doesn’t understand human language, he understands only the language of force. Therefore, unless we become more decisive and determine the right priorities on time, we will soon have World War III.
And I, as a politician now, won’t shake Russia's hand in the political arena. It is not right to extend a hand to someone who kept you in handcuffs and your people in chains. But every time I make a political decision, I will always think how it would affect ordinary people, both in Ukraine and Russia. Because in Russia, in spite of everything, there are many honest, kind, and decent people.
Translated by Anna Shamanska
Kilde: http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-savchenko-trial-letter-russia/27589461.html
onsdag 2. mars 2016
Raphael Poirée: - Drakk vodka med KGB-sjef da jeg skrev kontrakt - Begge var fulle.
(Dagbladet): Raphael Poirée (41) er på plass når VM i skiskyting starter
med første øvelse i Holmenkollen torsdag. Den tidligere meritterte
skiskytteren skal være ekspertkommentator for Eurosport i Frankrike.
Denne uka holdt Poirée et foredrag i Oslo, arrangert av spillselskapet Come On. Der fortalte eksmannen til Liv Grete Skjelbreid (41) om sitt dramatiske liv: Om faren som stakk, om ulykken som holdt på å gjøre ham lam - og om skilsmissen med Liv Grete.
Les saken her.
Men Poirée kom også inn på da han ble ansatt som trener for Hviterussland i april 2012. Dette skjedde ikke uten en viss ballade.
- Vi møttes på bar, forteller Poirée om øyeblikket da kontrakten skulle inngås.
- Rundt oss var det livvakt og børse. Når du diskuterer en kontrakt i Hviterussland, tar du et glass vodka. Etter to timer var begge fulle, sier Poirée.
Tonen var uanstrengt.
- Han sa til meg: «Du må ikke tenke sånn KGB var før. Vi dreper ikke flere folk.» Jeg tenkte: «OK». Vi drakk vodka og diskuterte terrorisme og alt mulig. Det var litt spesielt.
- Jeg måtte bygge et lag for framtida. Men de ville bli verdensmestere på én dag. Det var ikke mulig. Etter ett år kom vi ingen vei. Jeg fikk alle imot meg, sier Poirée, som avbrøt kontrakten.
Han fortsetter:
- Hviterussland er et land som ligger 15-20 år bak oss. De var redde for nye utfordringer når jeg presenterte forandringer. Mannen fra KGB fikk også sparken fordi han var sammen med meg. Det var en interessant erfaring.
I glansdagene som skiskytter høstet han trofeer og medaljer i bøtter og spann for Frankrike. Han la opp i 2007. I dag har Skjelbreid Poirée kurs og konferansesenter i hjembygda.
Dagbladet skrev tidligere i uka at Raphael ikke vil gå i den samme fella som sin egen far. Der han dro sin vei - og sviktet - vil Raphael være til stede for barna.
Kilde: http://www.dagbladet.no/2016/03/02/sport/raphael_poiree/skiskyting/43366510/#_ga=1.150044214.1213989455.1445237560
Denne uka holdt Poirée et foredrag i Oslo, arrangert av spillselskapet Come On. Der fortalte eksmannen til Liv Grete Skjelbreid (41) om sitt dramatiske liv: Om faren som stakk, om ulykken som holdt på å gjøre ham lam - og om skilsmissen med Liv Grete.
Les saken her.
Men Poirée kom også inn på da han ble ansatt som trener for Hviterussland i april 2012. Dette skjedde ikke uten en viss ballade.
Livvakt og børse
Sjefen for det hviterussiske landslaget i skiskyting - Vadim Zaitsev - var også sjef for det hviterussiske KGB.- Vi møttes på bar, forteller Poirée om øyeblikket da kontrakten skulle inngås.
- Rundt oss var det livvakt og børse. Når du diskuterer en kontrakt i Hviterussland, tar du et glass vodka. Etter to timer var begge fulle, sier Poirée.
Tonen var uanstrengt.
- Han sa til meg: «Du må ikke tenke sånn KGB var før. Vi dreper ikke flere folk.» Jeg tenkte: «OK». Vi drakk vodka og diskuterte terrorisme og alt mulig. Det var litt spesielt.
Utfordringer
Mens vodkaen gjorde seg gjeldende, skrev han under på en toårskontrakt som skulle vare fram til Sotsji-OL i 2014. Men franskmannen skjønte fort at det ikke var mulig å få så kjappe resultater som hviterusserne ønsket seg.- Jeg måtte bygge et lag for framtida. Men de ville bli verdensmestere på én dag. Det var ikke mulig. Etter ett år kom vi ingen vei. Jeg fikk alle imot meg, sier Poirée, som avbrøt kontrakten.
Han fortsetter:
- Hviterussland er et land som ligger 15-20 år bak oss. De var redde for nye utfordringer når jeg presenterte forandringer. Mannen fra KGB fikk også sparken fordi han var sammen med meg. Det var en interessant erfaring.
Kvier seg
Etter det Dagbladet forstår, har Poirée fått tilbud fra flere land. Han kvier seg imidlertid for reisevirksomheten, og vil ha nærhet til de tre barna i Hålandsdalen. Raphael og Liv Grete bor 200 meter fra hverandre.I glansdagene som skiskytter høstet han trofeer og medaljer i bøtter og spann for Frankrike. Han la opp i 2007. I dag har Skjelbreid Poirée kurs og konferansesenter i hjembygda.
Dagbladet skrev tidligere i uka at Raphael ikke vil gå i den samme fella som sin egen far. Der han dro sin vei - og sviktet - vil Raphael være til stede for barna.
Kilde: http://www.dagbladet.no/2016/03/02/sport/raphael_poiree/skiskyting/43366510/#_ga=1.150044214.1213989455.1445237560
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