Who put the Nadiya Savchenko question to Jen Psaki? #FreeSavchenko

Posted on January 7, 2015 by chervonaruta

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

Posted in "Voices" in English, #Free Savchenko, English | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Global Twitter-storm for the release of Nadiya Savchenko: #FreeSavchenko

Posted on January 7, 2015 by chervonaruta

By mihail-shahin, uainfo.org
01.05.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine 

On January 5th, an international online campaign commenced in support of Ukrainian pilot and “Batkivshchyna” party MP Nadiya Savchenko, who is accused in the deaths of journalists from the Russia 1 channel. Radio Svoboda reported on this.

Activists created and disseminated photo and video information about Nadiya Savchenko in different languages and distributed it with the hashtag #FreeSavchenko in Twitter and Facebook online social networks.

The Twitter-storm was actively supported by the lawyers of the Ukrainian POWs Mark Feygin and Nikolai Polozov.

The Twitter-storm was also joined by Embassies of Ukraine in different countries. In particular, a message about POW Savchenko was placed on the pages of the Embassy of Ukraine in the United Kingdom, Macedonia, Japan, Armenia, Kuwait, and the Embassy of Ukraine to the Holy See (Vatican).

The US Ambassador to Ukraine, Geoffrey Pyatt, also joined the action.

As a reminder, on December 25, 2014, the Ukrainian Parliament [Verkhovna Rada] appealed to international organizations and interparliamentary assemblies for the release of Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko and included her in the Permanent Delegation of Ukraine to the Parliamentary Assembly Council of Europe (PACE).

Earlier, the pilot’s lawyer, Mark Feygin, reported that Nadiya Savchenko intends to stay on hunger strike until January 26, 2015 – the date when the Parliamentary Council of Europe (PACE) session starts in Strasbourg (France). If she obtains the mandate of a delegate in PACE from Ukraine and takes on diplomatic immunity, the Russian authorities must release her from custody, the lawyer said.

On his Twitter page, the attorney explained that Nadiya Savchenko began a hunger strike on December 13. He said she had lost about five kilos [11 lbs] and does not give in to entreaties to stop the hunger strike, which threatens her health.

Nadiya Savchenko stated that she recognizes herself to be only a political prisoner and a prisoner of war. She continues to be accused of the deaths of the journalists from Russia 1 Channel, although the pilot’s lawyers can provide the alibis to prove her innocence in the death of the correspondents.

With Nadiya Savchenko gaining diplomatic immunity as a PACE delegate, Russia will have no right to hold the Ukrainian citizen in a detention center or prosecute her in a criminal case.

On December 22, it became known that the Moscow City Court dismissed the complaint by Ukrainian pilot and “Batkivshchyna” Party MP Nadiya Savchenko and left her under arrest. In response, she said she would continue an indefinite hunger strike.

Source: UAINFO

Ukraine’s Emb. to UK 
@UkrEmbLondon
The above tweeted link: http://uk.mfa.gov.ua/en/page/open/id/3883

The Ukrainian Embassy of Brazil retweeted 11 times #FreeSavchenko 11 different tweets by others.
 MFA of Ukraine did about 41 retweets plus a couple tweets of their own:

 Ukrainian Embassy in the Holy See retweeted 16 X and tweeted twice:

 

 The organizer, @Glasnost Gone tweeted yesterday:

 

Due to our fantastic efforts yesterday 4 Nadiya (62,000 tweets) I’m making a film & will post Thursday

Want more? Visit #FreeSavchenko on Twitter.

Nasha Nadiya!

Posted in #Free Savchenko, English, English News, Pictures, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dmitry Tymchuk: Military updates, 1/06 (28th “Day of Silence”)

Posted on January 6, 2015 by tilamuse

information_resistance_logo_engDmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
01.06.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Photo: Nikola Kolesnik

Photo: Nikola Kolesnik

Operational data from Information Resistance:

In the Kuibyshev District of Donetsk and in the vicinity of the Putilovsky Juncture, the arrival of Russian-terrorist forces’ tanks has been recorded. Enemy tank units were used throughout the past 24 hours in the area of Pisky, where they tried to provoke full-scale clashes – carrying out accurate fire onto the positions of the Ukrainian troops.

The enemy is actively transferring new artillery units and armored vehicles into Donetsk and environs. In particular, new artillery unit firing positions have been recorded in Yakovlivka, Yasynuvata, Spartak, and the Petrovskyi district of Donetsk. During the last two days, at least 2 marching convoys have been observed with armored vehicles and artillery. One of the convoys entered from the south (through Amvrosiivka), the other – through Snizhne and Shakhtarsk. Overall, up to 20 armored vehicles (including 7 tanks) and up to 6 cannon artillery guns have been recorded. Tented cargo trucks with ammunition and personnel were also part of the convoys.

The enemy continues to regroup in the area of Bakhmut highway. The majority of the equipment and weapons has been towed deep inside the combat formations. On the “forefront” remain basically [military] observers and fire spotters. The presence of at least 3 mortar batteries and 2 batteries of cannon artillery have been observed in the area. Periodically, a “wandering” MLRS battery makes an appearance.

The advance positions of Ukrainian troops south of Debaltseve were fired on with mortars and heavy machine guns. In this way, the Russian-terrorist troops command provided cover for the transfer of reinforcements through Yenakiieve for the units [currently] holding the eastern suburbs of Horlivka.

Between the settlements of Dokuchajevsk and Olenivka [Ed. Note: alternative spelling Elenovka], Russian-terrorist troops are setting up a fortified zone. They install hidden firing positions, shelters, mined obstacles, etc. Supply convoys periodically come into the area through Donetsk (mainly with ammunition and fuel).

In the vicinity of Komsomolske, the arrival of a new enemy formation staffed by local insurgents has also been observed. The formation consists of up to 12 armored vehicles (including 3 tanks). This group interacts with the Russian company tactical group (CTG) operating in the area of Telmanove (which, in turn, fired at the positions of Ukrainian troops near Hranitne two days ago).

The artillery unit of one of the so-called “Cossack” formations that was being transferred to the vicinity of Luhansk (a battery of 6 D-30 howitzers), recorded previously by IR, opened fire at a location of the special detachment of Internal Troops of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs. The shelling caused panic among the Russian servicemen. There are dead and injured [among them].

The so-called “Cossack” formations that currently operate in the Alchevsk–Stakhanov stretch are in “permanent combat readiness” due to the plans of the “LNR” leadership to take control of the area.

In the area south of Mariupol and Donetsk, the enemy continues to use drones (UAVs) actively, and to actively carry out ground reconnaissance. North of Starobesheve, the operation of a Russian station of radio-electronic warfare (REW) has been observed. The interferences by this REW station are directed at the operating frequencies of Ukrainian troops.

Photo: Nikola Kolesnik

Photo: Nikola Kolesnik

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Posted in Dmitry Tymchuk, English, English News, South&Eastern Ukraine, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Dmitry Tymchuk: Military updates, 1/05 (27th “Day of Silence”)

Posted on January 6, 2015 by chervonaruta

information_resistance_logo_engDmitry Tymchuk, Head of the Center for Military and Political Research, Coordinator of the Information Resistance group, Member of Parliament (People’s Front)
01.05.2015
Translated and edited by Voices of Ukraine

Operational data from Information Resistance:

A concentration of Russian-terrorist forces’  manpower and equipment is currently being observed in the vicinity of Pervomaisk and towards the settlement of Novotoshkivske. The transfer of forces and equipment is carried out in secret, the equipment is moved in small batches, the soldiers also move in small groups. Near the Bakhmut highway, the movement of a company tactical group (CTG) of the Russian Airborne Troops has been observed; the CTG is staffed by contract soldiers, who are disguised as the so-called “militia.”

In the vicinity of Shakhtarsk, the Russian-terrorist forces are setting up their positions for anti-aircraft defense. The arrival of a unit of SAM “Strela-10M” anti-aircraft missile systems (6 systems) has been observed in the area. The unit is staffed with anti-aircraft defense experts from Russia.

South of the settlement of Nikishyne (Shakhtarsk district of Donetsk region), the enemy strengthens the “second line” with new formations, staffed by Russian mercenaries and local insurgents. These formations, which amount to about 300 people, have been observed near the settlements of Timofiivka, Orlovo-Ivanivka, and Rozsypne. The units have a minimum number of military vehicles [at their disposal], [they] move primarily in seized civilian vehicles. According to preliminary data, these formations are tasked to advance to the frontline positions east of Yenakiieve.

The arrival of close to 120 mercenaries from Russia, who call themselves “volunteers – former policemen with the Chechen Ministry of Internal Affairs,” has been recorded in the village of Zuhres. In fact, the unit is staffed by Chechen police officers (Akhmad Kadyrov Patrol and Inspection Service Police), who during a show at the stadium in Grozny at the end of December last year, signed reports to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Chechnya R. Alkhanov that [they were] “ready to fulfill any an order of their Commander-in-Chief – the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia V.A. Kolokoltsev, and the Head of the Chechen Republic R.A. Kadyrov to protect the interests of the Russian Federation anywhere in the world. The unit of “Kadyrovites” has heavy infantry weapons. Also the unit is in possession of up to 10 armored vehicles (their crews consist of Russian mercenaries who were trained at a training camp in Rostov-on-Don).

South of Donetsk, in the vicinity of Dokuchajevsk –Telmanove, the Russian-terrorist forces’  combat formations continue to be reinforced. Movement of manpower and weapons, including armored vehicles and artillery, to the advanced positions has been observed. At least two artillery units and up to a dozen armored vehicles have just been observed arriving in the area.

In the area of Hranitne and Starohnativka, the enemy has again tried to push Ukrainian troops from their occupied positions with fire strikes and subsequent assault attempts. Ukrainian troops deflected all attempted attacks.

Source: Dmitry Tymchuk FB

Posted in Dmitry Tymchuk, English, English News, South&Eastern Ukraine, War in Donbas | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Neujahrsgrüße von “Kyborgs” und ATO-Kämpfern

Posted on January 5, 2015 by goldblau

“Kyborgs” (ukrainische Elitesoldaten) und die ATO-Kämpfer grüßen die Ukraine

Posted in Deutsch | Tagged , , | 2 Comments