Hunger-striking Ukrainian pilot’s health stable, Russia says

People hold posters depicting Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko, during a interfaith prayer "For Ukraine, for peace, for Nadezhda" in support of Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, March 1, 2015. Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko was captured by Russia-backed rebels during fighting in eastern Ukraine. The Kiev government has so far been unsuccessful in seeking the extradition of Savchenko who was elected a member of the Ukrainian parliament in the October 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov) People hold posters depicting Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko, during a interfaith prayer "For Ukraine, for peace, for Nadezhda" in support of Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko in Kiev, Ukraine, Sunday, March 1, 2015. Ukrainian pilot Nadezhda Savchenko was captured by Russia-backed rebels during fighting in eastern Ukraine. The Kiev government has so far been unsuccessful in seeking the extradition of Savchenko who was elected a member of the Ukrainian parliament in the October 2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election. (AP Photo/Sergei Chuzavkov)

By Associated Press March 3, 2015 1 min read

MOSCOW (AP) – A top Russian prison official says the jailed Ukrainian military pilot who has been on a hunger strike for nearly three months is in a stable condition.

Anatoly Rudy told the Tass news agency Tuesday that if Nadezhda Savchenko’s health severely deteriorates she could be transferred to a civilian hospital.

The comments came a day after the presidents of Ukraine, France and Germany appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to release Savchenko, who was captured by Russia-backed rebels in June and ended up in custody in Russia.

She is awaiting trial on charges of involvement in the deaths of two Russian journalists in eastern Ukraine.

She denies the accusations and started a hunger strike Dec. 13.