The verdict on Thursday by the Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), a Russian-backed rebel-held region that is not internationally recognized as independent, marks the first conviction of foreign fighters since Russia invaded Russia. on February 24th. Britain’s Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner and Moroccan Brahim Saadoun have been charged with violating four articles of the DPR’s legal code, including attempting to “seize power” and “training to carry out terrorist activity”, the Don news agency reported. separatists. The court recognized each of the groups as “mercenaries” and said their actions “led to [the] civilian deaths and injuries “, as well as the destruction of infrastructure in the DRC, which is one of the two breakaway regions in the eastern Donbass region of Ukraine, alongside the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR). The Russian news agency TASS reported that the three men pleaded guilty to all charges against them. The three men are now facing an execution squad, according to Russia’s state-run RIA Novosti news agency. Their lawyer told them they would appeal the decision. According to information, they will have up to a month to do it. The separatists’ characterization of the three captured fighters as “mercenaries” had consequences for the protection afforded to them, placing them outside the remit of the Geneva Conventions for prisoners of war. The Geneva Conventions provide fighters with immunity from prosecution for military action that is considered lawful.
The UK government is “deeply concerned” about the verdicts
Relatives of Pinner and Aslin have argued that both are longtime members of the Ukrainian military and not mercenaries. The couple was arrested by pro-Russian forces in Mariupol in mid-April during a fierce battle for control of the port city in southeastern Ukraine. Saadoun was arrested in March in Volnovakha, a small town located between Mariupol and the regional capital of Donetsk. A spokesman for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the UK government was “deeply concerned” about the death penalty and would work to secure the release of Piner and Aslin. “We have consistently said that prisoners of war should not be exploited for political purposes,” he told reporters. “According to the Geneva Convention, prisoners of war are entitled to combat immunity and should not be prosecuted for engaging in hostilities. “In this way, we will continue to work with the Ukrainian authorities to ensure the release of any British nationals who have served in the Ukrainian Armed Forces and are being held as prisoners of war.” British Foreign Secretary Liz Truce has condemned the condemnation on Twitter, calling it a “false crisis with absolutely no legitimacy”. Troy is expected to discuss the situation with her Ukrainian counterpart by telephone on Friday. The United Kingdom has not announced plans to hold talks with Russian officials. I fully condemn the sentencing of Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner by Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine. They are prisoners of war. This is a sham crisis without any legitimacy at all. My thoughts are with families. We continue to do what we can to support them. – Liz Truss (@trussliz) June 9, 2022 Government Secretary Robin Walker called the GDR Supreme Court “an illegal tribunal in a false government” and said the United Kingdom would use “all diplomatic channels to assert that prisoners of war should be treated accordingly”. “Russia must assume its responsibility, its responsibilities under the Geneva Convention, for the treatment of prisoners of war,” he added. There was no immediate reaction from Rabat on the allegations against the Moroccan national. The Russian military has argued that foreign mercenaries fighting on the Ukrainian side are not soldiers and will have to wait to be tried if arrested. Another British fighter captured by pro-Russian forces, Andrew Hill, is awaiting trial.
