A court in Ukraine’s self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic has convicted two British fighters and a Moroccan man on Thursday of plotting to overthrow the rebels in a rebel-held eastern part of the country.
The men were also convicted of mercenary activities and terrorism.
“Our whole family is devastated and saddened by the outcome of the illegal demonstration trial,” said the family of one of the Britons, Sean Piner.
A statement from Britain’s Foreign Ministry stated that the 48-year-old had been living in Ukraine for four years.
“We sincerely hope that all parties will work together urgently to secure Shaun’s safe release or exchange. “Our family, including his son and his Ukrainian wife, love him and miss him so much and our hearts go out to all the families involved in this awful situation,” the statement said.
The family also described Piner as a proud “contracted Marine in the 36th Brigade,” a Ukrainian naval infantry division that helped defend the besieged southern port city of Mariupol before it was captured by Russian forces.
As a member of the brigade, Piner “should have all the rights of a prisoner of war under the Geneva Convention and including full independent legal representation,” the family said.
Ukraine and the West have denounced the proceedings in the unrecognized Donetsk Republic as fraud and breach of the rules of war.
Pro-Russian separatists said on Saturday they were preparing to try a South Korean national who had fought on Ukraine’s side but that the man had escaped. They said they still wanted to try him in South Korea, but it was not clear how that could happen.
Ukraine called on foreigners to join the resistance against the Russian invasion, and some responded to this call, although not all were accepted into the Ukrainian foreign legion.
Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Saturday that a Czech national had died in the Donetsk region of Ukraine – the first Czech death reported among foreign volunteers.
title: “Ukraine The Family Of The British Man Crushed By The Death Penalty " ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-01” author: “Mark Spencer”
A court in Ukraine’s self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic has convicted two British fighters and a Moroccan man on Thursday of plotting to overthrow the rebels in a rebel-held eastern part of the country. The men were also convicted of mercenary activities and terrorism. “Our whole family is devastated and saddened by the outcome of the illegal demonstration trial,” said the family of one of the Britons, Sean Piner. A statement from Britain’s Foreign Ministry stated that the 48-year-old had been living in Ukraine for four years. “We sincerely hope that all parties will work together urgently to secure Shaun’s safe release or exchange. “Our family, including his son and his Ukrainian wife, love him and miss him so much and our hearts go out to all the families involved in this awful situation,” the statement said. The family also described Piner as a proud “contracted Marine in the 36th Brigade,” a Ukrainian naval infantry division that helped defend the besieged southern port city of Mariupol before it was captured by Russian forces. As a member of the brigade, Piner “should have all the rights of a prisoner of war under the Geneva Convention and including full independent legal representation,” the family said. Ukraine and the West have denounced the proceedings in the unrecognized Donetsk Republic as fraud and breach of the rules of war. Pro-Russian separatists said on Saturday they were preparing to try a South Korean national who had fought on Ukraine’s side but that the man had escaped. They said they still wanted to try him in South Korea, but it was not clear how that could happen. Ukraine called on foreigners to join the resistance against the Russian invasion, and some responded to this call, although not all were accepted into the Ukrainian foreign legion. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said on Saturday that a Czech national had died in the Donetsk region of Ukraine – the first Czech death reported among foreign volunteers.
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