One of five Britons freed from captivity by Russian-backed forces said former Chelsea football team owner Roman Abramovich welcomed them on their flight out of Russia. In an interview with The Sun, John Harding said Mr Abramovich identified himself as Sean Pinner, while Mr Harding spoke to Mr Abramovich’s aide, who said the Russian played a “key role” in their release . Mr Harding is understood to have been released on Wednesday along with Pinner, Aiden Ashlin, Dylan Healy and Andrew Hill, landing in Britain in the early hours of Thursday. Mr Abramovich announced he would sell Chelsea on March 2, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The 55-year-old was then sanctioned by the UK government on March 10, with Downing Street claiming it had proven his links to Vladimir Putin.
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“Shaun was talking to him about football for a long time and I was talking to his assistant,” Mr Harding told the Sun. “He said Roman played a key role in our comeback. It’s too unusual to think he was involved — and I couldn’t even tell you who it was by looking at him. “He’s well respected by Ukrainians and a lot of us now – he’s done a lot for us and we couldn’t thank him enough. “He was a good man, a really great guy. He’s a legend — we absolutely love him and I’m so grateful for his efforts.” Pinner’s family said he was “in good spirits” and “looking forward to steak and a glass of red wine” after his release. A court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic had sentenced Piner and Ashlin to death in July. It was a painful time for Shaun and our family, who now had such a happy resolution They had both lived in Ukraine for many years and were serving with its regular forces when full-scale war broke out. In a statement released by the Foreign Office, Mr Pinner’s family said: “We would like to thank everyone involved in Sean’s release, especially at the Foreign Office, Liz Truss and her team, Boris Johnson and (Ukrainian ) President (Volodymyr) Zelensky. . “Shaun would also like to acknowledge the hospitality of the government of Saudi Arabia and Prince Mohammed bin Salman al Saud who also helped negotiate his freedom. “It is a very emotional time as you can expect and we are not currently able to discuss any details in full this early in the launch. It was a painful time for Shaun and our family, who now had such a happy resolution. Shaun is in good spirits and still has his sense of humor intact. Looking forward to steak and a glass of red wine tonight. “We are now enjoying family time and would appreciate some privacy at this time.” A photograph released by the Foreign Office appeared to show Mr Pinner with loved ones. Three of the British nationals freed by pro-Russian forces have been hailed as defenders of “democracy and freedom” by their former commander in Ukraine. Mr Harding, Pinner and Mr Ashlin are believed to have served in the Georgian Legion, a pro-Ukrainian volunteer unit, under Mamuka Mamoulashvili. “All these children did their best to defend democracy and freedom,” Mr Mamulashvili told the PA news agency. He is one of the best representatives of his nation who came here to defend Ukraine and I respect him “They were in the Georgia Legion around the same time … and they were great kids. “It was very important for us to get these guys out of captivity because I was in captivity myself and I know what it’s like.” Mr Mamulashvili singled out Mr Harding, a British Army veteran, for his contribution to the legion, where he trained younger volunteers as instructors. “He is one of the best representatives of his nation who came here to defend Ukraine and I give him my respect,” he said. The non-profit organization Presidium Network, which has supported Mr Healy’s family, told the PA that all five had landed safely in the UK and were reunited with their families. Dominik Byrne, co-founder of the organization, said: “We don’t know exactly if everyone is back home yet, but we know they are with families at the moment.” The Foreign Office has not commented on the whereabouts of the men. Mr Aslin’s release was confirmed by local MP Robert Jenrick. The first thing I had to do was give him a big hug and make sure it was real. It still doesn’t seem real now His mother, Angela Wood, told the BBC that at times she thought she would “never see him alive again”. “His release happened overnight, I’m still in shock,” she said. “The first thing I had to do was give him a big hug and make sure it was real. It still doesn’t seem real now.” Ms Wood also said the Russian separatists who held Mr Ashlin, for what she described as “torture” for the family, would contact her asking for money. A video emerged late on Wednesday of two men sitting inside an aircraft, in which Mr Ashlin introduced himself and Mr Pinner, adding: “We just want to let everyone know that we are now out of the danger zone and we are on the way home to our families.” Mr Pinner chimed in saying ‘by the skin of our teeth’ as Mr Ashlin continued: ‘We just want everyone to know the good news etc so thanks to everyone who’s supported us and what not, because we really appreciate that.” Mr Pinner added: “Thanks to everyone.” Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was in New York for a UN summit, tweeted: “Wonderfully welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine have been returned safely, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families. .”
title: “Brit Freed From Captivity Says Roman Abramovich Welcomed Them On Plane " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-18” author: “Thomas Wold”
One of five Britons freed from captivity by Russian-backed forces said former Chelsea football team owner Roman Abramovich welcomed them on their flight out of Russia. In an interview with The Sun, John Harding said Mr Abramovich identified himself as Sean Pinner, while Mr Harding spoke to Mr Abramovich’s aide, who said the Russian played a “key role” in their release . Mr Harding is understood to have been released on Wednesday along with Pinner, Aiden Ashlin, Dylan Healy and Andrew Hill, landing in Britain in the early hours of Thursday. Mr Abramovich announced he would sell Chelsea on March 2, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The 55-year-old was then sanctioned by the UK government on March 10, with Downing Street claiming it had proven his links to Vladimir Putin.
read more
“Shaun was talking to him about football for a long time and I was talking to his assistant,” Mr Harding told the Sun. “He said Roman played a key role in our comeback. It’s too unusual to think he was involved — and I couldn’t even tell you who it was by looking at him. “He’s well respected by Ukrainians and a lot of us now – he’s done a lot for us and we couldn’t thank him enough. “He was a good man, a really great guy. He’s a legend — we absolutely love him and I’m so grateful for his efforts.” Pinner’s family said he was “in good spirits” and “looking forward to steak and a glass of red wine” after his release. A court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic had sentenced Piner and Ashlin to death in July. It was a painful time for Shaun and our family, who now had such a happy resolution They had both lived in Ukraine for many years and were serving with its regular forces when full-scale war broke out. In a statement released by the Foreign Office, Mr Pinner’s family said: “We would like to thank everyone involved in Sean’s release, especially at the Foreign Office, Liz Truss and her team, Boris Johnson and (Ukrainian ) President (Volodymyr) Zelensky. . “Shaun would also like to acknowledge the hospitality of the government of Saudi Arabia and Prince Mohammed bin Salman al Saud who also helped negotiate his freedom. “It is a very emotional time as you can expect and we are not currently able to discuss any details in full this early in the launch. It was a painful time for Shaun and our family, who now had such a happy resolution. Shaun is in good spirits and still has his sense of humor intact. Looking forward to steak and a glass of red wine tonight. “We are now enjoying family time and would appreciate some privacy at this time.” A photograph released by the Foreign Office appeared to show Mr Pinner with loved ones. Three of the British nationals freed by pro-Russian forces have been hailed as defenders of “democracy and freedom” by their former commander in Ukraine. Mr Harding, Pinner and Mr Ashlin are believed to have served in the Georgian Legion, a pro-Ukrainian volunteer unit, under Mamuka Mamoulashvili. “All these children did their best to defend democracy and freedom,” Mr Mamulashvili told the PA news agency. He is one of the best representatives of his nation who came here to defend Ukraine and I respect him “They were in the Georgia Legion around the same time … and they were great kids. “It was very important for us to get these guys out of captivity because I was in captivity myself and I know what it’s like.” Mr Mamulashvili singled out Mr Harding, a British Army veteran, for his contribution to the legion, where he trained younger volunteers as instructors. “He is one of the best representatives of his nation who came here to defend Ukraine and I give him my respect,” he said. The non-profit organization Presidium Network, which has supported Mr Healy’s family, told the PA that all five had landed safely in the UK and were reunited with their families. Dominik Byrne, co-founder of the organization, said: “We don’t know exactly if everyone is back home yet, but we know they are with families at the moment.” The Foreign Office has not commented on the whereabouts of the men. Mr Aslin’s release was confirmed by local MP Robert Jenrick. The first thing I had to do was give him a big hug and make sure it was real. It still doesn’t seem real now His mother, Angela Wood, told the BBC that at times she thought she would “never see him alive again”. “His release happened overnight, I’m still in shock,” she said. “The first thing I had to do was give him a big hug and make sure it was real. It still doesn’t seem real now.” Ms Wood also said the Russian separatists who held Mr Ashlin, for what she described as “torture” for the family, would contact her asking for money. A video emerged late on Wednesday of two men sitting inside an aircraft, in which Mr Ashlin introduced himself and Mr Pinner, adding: “We just want to let everyone know that we are now out of the danger zone and we are on the way home to our families.” Mr Pinner chimed in, saying “by the skin of our teeth”, as Mr Ashlin continued: “We just want everyone to know the good news etc, so thanks to everyone who’s supported us and whatnot, for We really appreciate that.” Mr Pinner added: “Thanks to everyone.” Prime Minister Liz Truss, who was in New York for a UN summit, tweeted: “Wonderfully welcome news that five British nationals held by Russian-backed proxies in eastern Ukraine have been returned safely, ending months of uncertainty and suffering for them and their families. .”
