Ukrainian MP Nadezhda Savchenko addressed the plenary meeting of the summer session the Parliamentary Assembly of European Council on Monday.
PACE member Savchenko attended the assembly’s meeting for the first time after being released from prison in Russia and made a 2-minute speech as an exceptional case.
Savchenko thanked all members of PACE for their efforts towards her release.
"Today I am making speech here thanks to you. I’m grateful to all those who have fought for my release and supported Ukraine. Ukraine strives for peace, progress and Europe. First of all, I would like to note that I will do everything possible for our cooperation to be fruitful," she said.
Savchenko urged PACE to put pressure on Russia for the release of other Ukrainian detainees.
"Russia sentenced me to 22 years in prison, but we did our best against it. I am very pleased to be here," she added.
The Ukrainian MP spoke against Russia’s presence in PACE again, accusing this country of violating the rights of other member stated.
"I don’t want any country to have a neighbor like Russia, because the states neighboring this country are suffering from its consequences," she concluded.
