On January 6th, during the US State Department Daily Press Briefing with Spokesperson Jen Psaki, a reporter referred to the Global Twitter Storm in support of Nadiya Savchenko when asking if the Department of State supported “these actions” (her release and US Ambassador to Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt’s participation in the Twitter storm):

QUESTION: On Ukraine?

MS. PSAKI: Yes.

QUESTION: As you know, a hunger strike of – by Ukrainian pilot Nadia Savchenko, who is being held in Russia, enters fourth week. Yesterday, a Twitter storm started to support her release. And as I know, the ambassador – the U.S. Ambassador in Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, joined these actions – action. Does the Department of State support this action, and do you have any comments or statement on this issue?

MS. PSAKI: Sure. Well, we welcomed the exchange of some detained persons in December. Hundreds remain in captivity. We reiterate our condemnation of Russia’s continued detention of Ukrainian hostages inside Russia, including a Ukrainian member of parliament, Nadia Savchenko, and film producer Oleg Sentsov. We understand that Ms. Savchenko is on a hunger strike, as you mentioned, to protest the terms of her detention and is suffering additional health problems. We call for her immediate release, as well as other Ukrainian hostages held by Russia.

QUESTION: Thank you.

MS. PSAKI: Any more on Ukraine? Okay.

Inquiring minds want to know:

We at Voices of Ukraine want to know who asked that question? We want to thank you for keeping Nadiya’s name in the news and for using the Twitter storm (organized by @Glasnost Gone) as an opportunity to reiterate US government support for her release and that of other Ukrainian political prisoners still being held by Russia. When we find out, you get our 2015 Voices of Ukraine Reporter of Conscience Award for taking the message of a community-organized initiative further to the top! Thanks to all the reporters and journalists who listen and do this.

This is the face of the journalist who asked the question, anyone know his name or what media he works for?

Nadiya’s plan seems to be to hold out until the January 26th PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) Session in Strasbourg (France). Let’s keep her name in the news and the pressure on our politicians with the hopes that they can grant her a full delegate mandate with Parliamentary immunity to obtain her release. (See previous story here). Savchenko started her hunger strike on December 13 according to her lawyer, today is her 26th day and by January 26th it will be her 46th day on hunger strike, which is critical. Her lawyer should be able to see her on January 12. Keep using #FreeSavchenko on your posts and tweets and it’s not too late to write an email to your politician of preference. In solidarity with our political prisoners!

Source: U.S. Department of State