sd_generic module fails to handle non-ascii characters

[Lex]

Hi all,

I've been created a config file for speech-dispatcher generic module for 
ru_tts Russian synthesizer.
But it speaks only english text and numbers. Further debugging shows, 
that russian characters (which, as i believe, Orca sends in utf-8) are 
replaced by question marks in the $DATA substitution variable. Thus 
synthesizer receives question marks in place of Russian characters.
Is it a known bug? How difficult  it will be to fix?

p.s. Russian works with espeak native speech-dispatcher module, but 
since espeak Russian voice is far from perfect, we really need another 
synth.

Thanks,
Lex