MOSCOW, November 25 (RAPSI) – A criminal case on contempt of court has been opened in Russia against the sister of Ukrainian military ex-pilot Nadezhda Savchenko who stands charged with involvement in the killing Russian journalists as well as civilians in Donbas, lawyer Mark Feigin wrote on his Twitter account on Wednesday.

Vera Savchenko could face fine of up to 200,000 rubles ($3,000) or six months in prison if found guilty.

Nadezhda Savchenko was arrested in Russia last summer on charges of involvement in the murder of two Russian TV journalists during hostilities in Donbas and on illegally crossing the border into Russia.

TV correspondent Igor Kornelyuk and sound engineer Anton Voloshin were killed on June 17 in a mortar attack.

Savchenko, who denies all the charges, is facing 25 years in prison.

Her attorneys claim that Savchenko was framed and that there is no evidence of involvement in the journalists’ murder. They also claim she did not cross the border voluntarily but was kidnapped.

Last week, Igor Plotnitsky, the leader of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People’s Republic, testified in the case against Savchenko behind closed doors.