[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1255]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 DEMAND THE RELEASE OF NADIYA SAVCHENKO

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call for the immediate 
release of Ukrainian fighter pilot Nadiya Savchenko, who remains 
illegally jailed in Russia.
  Ms. Savchenko was captured by Russian-directed forces in eastern 
Ukraine in June of 2014 and transferred to a prison in Voronezh, 
Russia. She is still imprisoned there today, now in her second month of 
a hunger strike that demonstrates to the world the inhumanity of her 
capture.
  We recall the shocking footage of her interrogation in which she was 
handcuffed to a metal pipe, and yet we are assured by Russia she is 
``being treated well.''
  Why, if Russia is not invading Ukraine, as we are so often assured
by Russia, should they hold Ms. Savchenko at all?
  Yesterday, January 26, was Free Savchenko Day, a global, digital 
effort to raise awareness to her ongoing fight. The campaign shines a 
light on the disrespect for international law the Kremlin continues to 
demonstrate.
  I was honored to participate in that campaign and introduce, along 
with our colleagues from the Ukrainian Caucus, House Resolution 50, 
calling to mind her struggle and demanding her immediate release.
  The hunger strike began on December 13 and her health continues to 
deteriorate.
  Mr. Speaker, Nadiya Savchenko has been a beacon for liberty. I salute 
her bravery in the face of overt Russian aggregation. Her courage 
shines like a brilliant, brilliant beacon for liberty-loving people 
everywhere.
  God bless her, God bless America, and God bless Ukraine.

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