Two Britons who were captured by Russian forces while fighting in Ukraine could face up to 20 years in prison, according to a video shared by Russian state media.
Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48, were arrested in April before appearing in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) courts.
It is understood that the couple entered “training to carry out terrorist activities.”
Images shared by Russian news agency Ria Novosti on social media appear to show a translator asking Mr. Aslin if he would plead guilty to a crime, to which he replied, “Yes.”
In the video, the two Britons are in the dock at the Supreme Court of Prussian Territory next to a third man, who is said to be a Moroccan national Saaudun Brahim.
Kremlin uses food as “arsenal of terror,” says EU chief – Ukraine live news
Mr Pinner is understood to face a lengthy sentence and even the death penalty after allegedly admitting to “taking power by force”.
A few hours earlier, former Conservative minister Robert Jenrick had called for Aslin to return home at the earliest opportunity, possibly through a prisoner exchange.
The MP condemned the “false charges” facing the couple and accused Russia of a “completely outrageous breach of international law”.
Use the Chrome browser to get a more accessible video player
2:04 British arrested by Russians
He told BBC Radio 4’s World At One program: “This is a British citizen, but he is also a Ukrainian citizen, he is married to a Ukrainian, he joined the Ukrainian armed forces in the normal way before the invasion. (Vladimir) Putin and has been serving in the armed forces.
“He was taken prisoner by Russian forces and, in accordance with international law and the Geneva Convention, should be properly detained and returned to Ukraine as soon as possible, possibly through an exchange of prisoners.
“Instead, the Putin regime has chosen to try him and another Briton, Shaun Pinner, for false accusations, without any evidence. This is, I fear, a completely outrageous violation of international law. ‘I should condemn.’
Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
He added: “What I hope will happen is that there will be an exchange of prisoners in the near future. The Russian authorities have chosen to set an example for these two British people and I think it is completely embarrassing.”
Mr Pinner was filmed in April saying he had been captured while defending Mariupol, his adopted city.
His family then stressed that he “was not a volunteer or a mercenary, but officially served in the Ukrainian army.”
A few months earlier, he told Sky News that he was in his fourth period of service in Ukraine after serving nine years in the British Army and has been living in the country since 2018 and has a Ukrainian wife.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said on Monday that the British government hoped that “armed conflict laws would be represented” and that the Foreign Ministry would make “all representations”.
Image: Shaun Pinner’s family shared a photo of the 48-year-old British Army soldier
Mr Aslin’s family said on Tuesday that it was a “very sensitive and emotional time” and that they were working with the Ukrainian government and the UK Foreign Ministry to try to free the 28-year-old.
“Aiden is a much-loved and much-missed man, and we hope to be released very soon,” they said in a statement.
The former caregiver worker joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a sailor in 2018 and has applied for citizenship and has a Ukrainian girlfriend.
Russia’s current goal in the war is to capture the eastern Donbassk region of Luhansk and Donetsk.
The separatists unilaterally established two separatist republics there in 2014, but Ukraine does not recognize them.