A hunger-striking Ukrainian military pilot on trial in Russia resumed drinking water today after receiving a prank letter claiming to be from Ukraine's president, asking her to end her action, her defence team said.
Nadiya Savchenko will continue a week-long hunger strike until the verdict later this month, said her lawyer Mark Feigin.
Her lawyers said she acted on a written request from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, but it emerged later that the letter came from a celebrity prankster accused of having ties to the Russian security services.
"Nadezhda halted only a 'dry' hunger strike," Feigin told AFP. "She will be fasting until the verdict is announced," he said, using the Russian version of her name.
Her lawyers said yesterday that the health of the 34-year-old aviator had deteriorated significantly, she was feverish and her temperature had spiked.
The verdict in her case is due on March 21 and 22.
Savchenko's defence team said she had decided to start drinking water following a letter from Poroshenko in which he asked her to stay healthy.
The lawyers later said the missive was fake and accused Moscow of seeking to discredit the pilot and her team.
"It was obviously a well-planned operation by the security services," said Feigin.
A prominent Russian prankster known as "Vovan" -- whose last name is Vladimir Kuznetsov -- said he and his colleague had sent a letter on behalf of Poroshenko.
"We wanted to put an end to this farce," he told AFP.
He denied he was in the employ of the Russian security services. "This is a favourite version of the Russian opposition. If I say no, no one will believe me anyway."
Last year, Vovan called Elton John, making him believe he was discussing gay rights with President Vladimir Putin.
In her reply to the "Poroshenko" letter, Savchenko said she would start drinking water following an outpouring of support from Ukrainians.
"I have felt your pain, people," she said in a handwritten letter.
