Russian investigators have confirmed that, as feared, Nadiya Savchenko, the Ukrainian officer captured by Kremlin-backed militants and now in Russian detention, is to be subjected to a so-called psychiatric assessment at the notorious Serbsky Institute in Moscow.

Russia does not consider a Ukrainian officer taken prisoner by Kremlin-backed militants and abducted to Russia to be part of the exchange of prisoners agreed at the Minsk negotiations. A spokesperson claimed that the charges against Nadiya Savchenko and four opponents of Russia’s annexation of the Crimea were "serious"

A number of Ukrainian psychiatrists, including former Soviet political prisoner Semyon Gluzman, are calling on the world psychiatric community to put pressure on the Russian authorities over the unwarranted ‘examination’ of imprisoned Ukrainian officer Nadiya Savchenko in the notorious Serbski Institute

If the four Crimeans facing absurd ‘terrorist charges following peaceful protest against Russian occupation fall within traditional definitions of political prisoner, and Ukrainian officer Nadiya Savchenko is a prisoner of Russia’s undeclared war, Yury Yatsenko is in Russian detention because he is Ukrainian

Ukrainian officer Nadiya Savchenko has stated clearly that she is being subjected to a psychiatric examination in the notorious Serbsky Institute illegally and will be refusing to speak to staff, answer questions or in any way cooperate

Lawyers of the Ukrainian officer who is now in detention in Russia after being captured in Ukraine by Kremlin-backed militants hope that she can be brought back to Ukraine in exchange for the release of Russian security service officers.

Alexei Chirny, one of four Crimeans accused by Russia of a ‘terrorist plot’ in Crimea, is in a pre-suicide state which activists from the Open Dialogue Foundation believes was brought about by drugs he was ‘treated’ with in the notorious Serbsky Institute.

Alexei Chirny, one of the four Crimeans known for their opposition to Russia’s annexation of the Crimea and now facing extremely dubious ‘terrorist charges’ in Moscow, has written a letter seemingly from a psychiatric ward within the Butyrka pre-trial detention centre asking for the Ukrainian consul to come and see him

Moscow’s undeclared, yet ever more aggressive war against Ukraine was launched because Ukrainians had upheld their right to European integration. Ukraine’s parliament must not sabotage that integration through appallingly repressive laws.

A draft bill passed on Aug 12 will, if signed by the President, allow the Prosecutor to authorize searches, detention, wiretapping and other activities linked with criminal investigation.

A Mykolaiv court has found a person not guilty of supplying cannabis, with the ruling passed because of the infringements at investigation level made by both the police and the prosecutor.

The prominent Ukrainian film critic will have been in custody for six months on ‘terrorist’ charges which are widely believed to be politically motivated. All four people accused of this alleged ‘plot’ were involved in peaceful opposition to Russia’s occupation of the Crimea.

Russia has thus far proven unable to credibly explain how Nadiya Savchenko came to be in Russian detention and to be charged with involvement in the deaths of a Russian journalist and cameraman. It is instead applying dubious tactics to ensure that the questions are either not asked, or not heard. Not for the first time, Russian TV has been assigned a key role.

Russia’s FSB has issued summonses to the heads of the Karman Art Centre whom they suspect of involvement in what they claim was a terrorist conspiracy organized by renowned Crimean film director Oleg Sentsov. The FSB seems to find first aid courses particularly ‘suspicious’.

It is likely that Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko will not be allowed to attend the hearing, perhaps to avoid her describing how she was forced into Russia after being captured by Kremlin-backed militants

The Russian court order for Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko’s arrest refers to the Donbas region of Ukraine as the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republic. This is only one of the staggering demonstrations of contempt for domestic and international law in the case involving the abduction and ‘trial’ of a Ukrainian officer

Russia is using its standard tactics including attempts to foist its lawyer onto the case of Nadiya Savchenko and put pressure on her family. Meanwhile the European Court of Human Rights has given the case priority status and asked Russia questions regarding how the Ukrainian pilot taken prisoner by militants in Ukraine came to be in Russian detention

Russia is claiming that Ukrainian film director Oleg Sentsov ‘automatically’ received the Russian citizenship he opposed, that Ukrainian officer Nadiya Savchenko, abducted by Kremlin-backed militants, somehow just appeared in Russia. And if that were not enough, the Russian Foreign Ministry asserts that it’s Ukrainian troops who are shooting at Russia. ’ 

Ihor Zavadsky has been convicted of sexual crimes against minors and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment. The trial was behind close doors which is regrettable given concerns over the case following his arrest in March 2012

Should anybody have doubted the close ties between the Russian authorities and pro-Russian militants in eastern Ukraine, Nadiya Savchenko, a military officer taken prisoner and paraded as a ‘trophy’ by militants three weeks ago is now facing prosecution on dubious charges in Russia