"We clearly understand that the sentence is already written. The sentence will be maximum, it is 25 years of prison term and we can do nothing to change this sentence," Novikov said commenting on the show trial which is currently underway in Russia's Rostov region, Ukraine Today reports.

At the same time the lawyer expressed optimism that in less than 6 month Nadiya Savchenko would be returned to Ukraine considering an earlier statement by Russia’s Justice Ministry on possibility to send Nadia to serve her sentence in Ukraine after sentence is confirmed by a Court of Appeals.

Besides, Novikov did not rule out a prisoner exchange deal.

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