Russian government funded cable and satellite television network RT, citing another official news agency, RIA Novosti, broadcast a story claiming that recently released from Russian custody Ukrainian pilot and MP Nadiya Savchenko called for amnesty for Donbas separatist militants supported by Russia.
Lenta.ru, Kommersant.ru, Ukraina.ru reprinted this story.
“Yes. Because there are a lot of stupid guys there who just came to shoot” RIA Novosti quotes Savchenko’s response to a question posed by Ukrainian blogger Olena Bilozerska about amnestying pro-Russian militants.
RIA Novosti’s claim is taken completely out of context from Bilozerska’s conversation with Savchenko.
Bilozerska asks Savchenko what she thinks about amnesty after the end of the war: „Do you agree that after they lay down their arms, after we win, all those who fought against Ukraine, except for such leaders as Zakharchenko (Alexander Zakharchenko, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic) and those that are proven to be implicated in war crimes, should be amnestied?”
Savchenko replies that peace is necessary, but not on any terms. “There’s the enemy, and the adversary. The enemy – that is Russia, should go home. But the adversary can be persuaded, we are approximately of the same blood, but their heads are now filled with “Russian world” nonsense. We can learn to speak with them” says Savchenko. It is these people that should be amnestied, Savchenko said, Olena Bilozerska interviewed Nadiya Savchenko on June 6, 2016 during Savchenko’s two day visit to the war zone.
