Pro-Russian officials have sentenced to death two British and a Moroccan man captured while fighting in the Ukrainian army in Mariupol.
A Russian-controlled court in eastern Ukraine has convicted Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner after days of what observers have called a “show trial” for “false charges” aimed at imitating trials for crimes against war against Russian soldiers in Kyiv.
Aslin, 28, of Newark, and Pinner, 48, of Watford, were convicted by a court in Russian-controlled territory in Donetsk along with Saaudun Brahim of “terrorism.”
Both Britons have said they were serving in the Ukrainian navy, turning them into active-duty soldiers who should be protected by the Geneva Conventions on Prisoners of War. However, Russian state media have portrayed the men as mercenaries and the court has convicted them of “being mercenaries”.
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On Wednesday, the state news agency RIA Novosti shared images of the men pleading “guilty” to the charges against them, which also included terrorism, committing a crime as part of a criminal group and taking power by force. or forced retention of power.
Pro-Russian officials said the men’s actions had “resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, as well as damage to civilian and social infrastructure.”
A pro-Russian official in Donetsk said that although the men had pleaded guilty, they were sentenced to death for “the main and immovable principle: justice.” The process was closed and only small fragments of the procedure were made public through the pro-Kremlin media.
An official said the men would have a month to appeal their sentence and, if an appeal was accepted, could receive a life sentence or 25 years instead of the death penalty.
Russia is believed to be using the process in part to pressure the UK and may seek a prisoner exchange for Russian soldiers convicted of murder and other war crimes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. There is a moratorium on the death penalty in Russia, but not in the territory it occupies in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine has sentenced three Russian soldiers to prison for war crimes linked to the Russian offensive that began on February 24. Vadim Shishimarin, 21, was sentenced to life in prison on May 23 for killing a 62-year-old civilian in the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine early in the war. On May 31, Alexander Bobikin and Alexander Ivanov were sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for bombing raids on population centers that “violated the laws and customs of war.”
In a statement earlier this week, Aslin’s family said he had served in the Ukrainian navy for nearly four years and “is not, contrary to Kremlin propaganda, a volunteer, a mercenary or a spy. “.
The family also accused Russia of violating the Geneva conventions by posting a video of Aslin “speaking under duress and clearly suffering physical injuries.”
A spokesman for No. 10 said: “Obviously, we are deeply concerned about this. We have repeatedly said that prisoners of war should not be exploited for political purposes.” You know that under the Geneva Convention, prisoners of war are entitled to fighter immunity and should not be prosecuted for participating in hostilities.
“We will therefore continue to work with the Ukrainian authorities to try to secure the release of any British man who is serving in the Ukrainian armed forces and is being held as prisoners of war.”
His deputy Robert Jenrick told BBC Radio 4 that the trial was “a completely outrageous violation of international law and should be condemned”.
“The Russian authorities have chosen to set an example for these two British people and I think it is completely embarrassing.” He said he hoped for a prisoner exchange “in the near future”.