A Russian-backed separatist court has sentenced to death two Britons and a Moroccan who were captured while fighting for Ukraine.
Aiden Aslin, 28, and Sean Pinner, 48, were tried in the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in what observers denounced as a heinous Soviet-era show trial.
They were captured in April while fighting for Ukrainian forces against Russian invaders in Mariupol.
The British and Moroccan citizen Brahim Saadun – who is said to have been a student studying in Kyiv before being detained in April – have been accused by Russia and Kremlin-backed separatists in Donetsk of being “mercenaries” and accused of terrorism. “.
Speaking behind bars, Mr Aslin said: “I hoped that the sentence would be much fairer, given the circumstances in which I helped the investigation, and also because I surrendered to the Donetsk People’s Republic. I wish it could be different, but God will be the one to judge me when the time comes. ”
Both Britons fought for the Ukrainian army years before the Russian invasion and must be protected as active soldiers by the Geneva Conventions for Prisoners of War.
The three will face execution and have one month to appeal the decision, Russia’s state news agency RIA Novosti reported. All three said they would appeal the decision, according to Russia’s Tass news agency.
One theory is that their closure could be an opportunity for a negotiating instrument by the DNR or Moscow to get concessions from London, one of the fiercest critics of the Ukrainian invasion.
Their sentences were met with outrage by the UK government, with Foreign Secretary Liz Truss condemning the trial as “false”.
A video released by the RIA shows Mr Aslin, Mr Piner and Mr Saadun in a cage in the courtroom with white bars.
Mr Piner of Watford and Mr Saadun have pleaded guilty to violent seizures, according to the news agency.
The video appears to show Mr Aslin of Newark pleading guilty to a lesser charge, including weapons and explosives.
The defendants are “the first foreign mercenaries convicted in the Donetsk People’s Republic,” according to the Donetsk news agency.
Less than 24 hours before the sentencing, Piner and Saadun pleaded guilty to acts aimed at forcible seizure of power, according to a video shared by the court by RIA Novosti. Aslin appears to have pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, including weapons and explosives.
Judge Alexander Nikulin said the sentence was “guided not only by prescribed norms and rules, but also by the most important, unshakable principle of justice”.
The DNR is one of two breakaway, Russian-backed entities in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine that Russia says is fighting for liberation from Ukrainian forces.
Ms Trus said: “I fully condemn the sentencing of Aidan Aslin and Sean Piner, held by Russian officials in eastern Ukraine.
“They are prisoners of war. This is a false sentence with absolutely no legitimacy.
“My thoughts are with the families. We continue to do everything we can to support them. “
Robert Jenrick, Mr Aslin’s MP in Newark, called on the Foreign Ministry to summon Russia’s ambassador “for this most flagrant violation of the Geneva Convention”.
He added: “This disgusting Soviet-era show trial is the latest reminder of the corruption of the Putin regime.
“Russia needs to be clear that it can’t treat British citizens like that and get away with it.
The foreign ministry condemned what it called the exploitation of prisoners of war for political purposes.
A spokesman said: “They have the right to immunity for fighters and should not be persecuted for participating in hostilities.”
The Moroccan Foreign Ministry did not comment on Saadun’s case.
The trial took place in the DNR, one of two Moscow-backed separatist groups in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
Three days before Russia launched its invasion on February 24th, Vladimir Putin recognized the two Donbass entities as independent of Ukraine – and said the conflict was about “liberating” the region.
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