Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko has ended a more than 80 days hunger strike in protest at her detention in Russia after her health came near to collapse, her lawyer said on Friday.
The 33-year-old's plight has attracted international attention, while at home she has become a symbol of resistance in Ukraine's war against pro-Russian separatists.
Savchenko, who is also a Ukrainian lawmaker, halted her hunger strike over apparent concerns about her quickly deteriorating health and the apparent failure of her protest to win her freedom.
The Kremlin had ignored repeated pleas for her release from Ukraine and Western governments, despite warnings from activists that she could die within days.
One of Savchenko's lawyers, Mark Feigin, said on Friday she had made the decision to halt the hunger strike after her supporters had urged her to relent.
"She had been on the brink," he told AFP, adding that the pilot's weakening health had seen her blood pressure fall sharply while she was suffering seizures and vomited even after drinking water.
"I am happy that Nadezhda listened to my advice to end her hunger strike," the lawyer separately wrote on Twitter, using the Russian version of her name.
The helicopter navigator, who has been charged with involvement in the deaths of two Russian reporters in a mortar attack during the war in east Ukraine, has been held in a Moscow jail for nearly nine months.
She denies the charges and says she was kidnapped and brought to Russia. She had been on hunger strike since December 13.
Feigin told AFP that Savchenko decided to start eating again after authorities threatened to transfer her to a civilian hospital and force-feed her there.
"She would not be able to resist. That was the choice," he said, noting that she could not consume normal food and was now on diet of pureed food.
'Point of no return'
Another of Savchenko's lawyers, Nikolai Polozov, said she would not be able to start eating solid food for about a month.
He said Savchenko had halted the hunger strike just before she hit a "point of no return" which would mark irreversible health damage, or worse.
"Three weeks ago she was examined by German doctors. They said the point of no return would be around March 8."
Russia has repeatedly refused to release her and the Kremlin apparently refused to change tack, even after 11,000 people petitioned President Vladimir Putin.
Prominent Soviet-era dissident Mustafa Dzhemilev, who is the spiritual leader of the Crimean Tatars, had earlier urged Savchenko to start eating again.
"Nadya, my dear, it no longer makes sense to continue your hunger strike. Russia is not a country with principles of humanism," Dzhemilev, who is also a Ukrainian lawmaker, said in a letter to the young woman.
"We in Ukraine will save you for sure but through other means," said Dzhemilev, who himself refused food for more than 300 days while in a Soviet prison and was kept alive by forced feeding.
On Thursday, which marked the 83rd day of her strike, Savchenko agreed to eat some chicken soup after EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned that Savchenko risked "permanent damage to her health or death" if she didn't stop.
Upon learning of her decision, Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada parliament broke into applause.
"Nadiya Savchenko stopped her strike, thank you God!" lawmaker Sergiy Vlasenko said on Thursday, speaking from the rostrum and calling her a "hero."
In a letter released by Feigin on Thursday, Savchenko said she was learning to change tactics.
"I will fight! Together with you! And at your request, thankful for your support, I am remaining alive for you."
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has bestowed on Savchenko the Hero of Ukraine, his country's highest honour.
Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko has ended a more than 80 days hunger strike in protest at her detention in Russia after her health came near to collapse, her lawyer said on Friday.
The 33-year-old’s plight has attracted international attention, while at home she has become a symbol of resistance in Ukraine’s war against pro-Russian separatists.
Savchenko, who is also a Ukrainian lawmaker, halted her hunger strike over apparent concerns about her quickly deteriorating health and the apparent failure of her protest to win her freedom.
The Kremlin had ignored repeated pleas for her release from Ukraine and Western governments, despite warnings from activists that she could die within days.
One of Savchenko’s lawyers, Mark Feigin, said on Friday she had made the decision to halt the hunger strike after her supporters had urged her to relent.
“She had been on the brink,” he told AFP, adding that the pilot’s weakening health had seen her blood pressure fall sharply while she was suffering seizures and vomited even after drinking water.
“I am happy that Nadezhda listened to my advice to end her hunger strike,” the lawyer separately wrote on Twitter, using the Russian version of her name.
The helicopter navigator, who has been charged with involvement in the deaths of two Russian reporters in a mortar attack during the war in east Ukraine, has been held in a Moscow jail for nearly nine months.
She denies the charges and says she was kidnapped and brought to Russia. She had been on hunger strike since December 13.
Feigin told AFP that Savchenko decided to start eating again after authorities threatened to transfer her to a civilian hospital and force-feed her there.
“She would not be able to resist. That was the choice,” he said, noting that she could not consume normal food and was now on diet of pureed food.
‘Point of no return’
Another of Savchenko’s lawyers, Nikolai Polozov, said she would not be able to start eating solid food for about a month.
He said Savchenko had halted the hunger strike just before she hit a “point of no return” which would mark irreversible health damage, or worse.
“Three weeks ago she was examined by German doctors. They said the point of no return would be around March 8.”
Russia has repeatedly refused to release her and the Kremlin apparently refused to change tack, even after 11,000 people petitioned President Vladimir Putin.
Prominent Soviet-era dissident Mustafa Dzhemilev, who is the spiritual leader of the Crimean Tatars, had earlier urged Savchenko to start eating again.
“Nadya, my dear, it no longer makes sense to continue your hunger strike. Russia is not a country with principles of humanism,” Dzhemilev, who is also a Ukrainian lawmaker, said in a letter to the young woman.
“We in Ukraine will save you for sure but through other means,” said Dzhemilev, who himself refused food for more than 300 days while in a Soviet prison and was kept alive by forced feeding.
On Thursday, which marked the 83rd day of her strike, Savchenko agreed to eat some chicken soup after EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini warned that Savchenko risked “permanent damage to her health or death” if she didn’t stop.
Upon learning of her decision, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada parliament broke into applause.
“Nadiya Savchenko stopped her strike, thank you God!” lawmaker Sergiy Vlasenko said on Thursday, speaking from the rostrum and calling her a “hero.”
In a letter released by Feigin on Thursday, Savchenko said she was learning to change tactics.
“I will fight! Together with you! And at your request, thankful for your support, I am remaining alive for you.”
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has bestowed on Savchenko the Hero of Ukraine, his country’s highest honour.
