Prussian officials have sentenced to death two British and a Moroccan man captured while fighting in the Ukrainian army in Mariupol, Russian state media reported.
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.”
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.
Russia is also believed to be using the process 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.
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.”
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”.