Rally for Savchenko

Re: Ukrainian Aircrew Member Plans To Starve Herself Instead Of Prison, March 10.

I was one of dozens of Calgarians who gathered Wednesday at the Peace Bridge to rally for the release of Ukrainian MP, PACE delegate, pilot, and political pris- oner Nadiya Savchenko. She has been illegally detained by Russian authorities for almost two years and is now on the sixth day of a dry hunger strike. She has declared she will “return to Ukraine — alive or dead”.

Politicians like Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion intent on rekindling warm diplomatic relations with Russia do not understand the Kremlin lives by the motto, “The strong do what they will; the weak suffer what they must.” Russian President Vladimir Putin takes advantage of Western politicians who believe he will honour his diplomatic obligations. Instead, he only continues egregiously violating human rights, as in Savchenko’s case, while gaining political and economic concessions to fill his pockets.