Donbas Pro-Russian Rebels Sentence British and Moroccan Prisoners to Death

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), a pro-Russian separatist force in Ukraine's Donbas region, has sentenced to death British and Moroccan soldiers who were captured while fighting as mercenaries for the Ukrainian army. While the British government strongly condemned the sentence, there are concerns that the Russian government may use their fate as a diplomatic bargaining chip in the future.

On the 9th (local time), according to Russia's TASS news agency, the DPR court sentenced three individuals?28-year-old British national Aiden Aslin, 48-year-old Sean Pinner, and Moroccan national Brahim Saadoun?who were captured while fighting as mercenaries for the Ukrainian army against Russian forces, to death for "engaging in mercenary activities and acts aimed at seizing power and overthrowing the constitutional order."

Among them, British nationals Aslin and Pinner were reportedly captured by Russian forces in Mariupol last April. They had been residing in Ukraine since 2018 and joined the Ukrainian army after the Russian invasion, eventually becoming prisoners of war. The court stated that the defendants could appeal within a month, but if found guilty, there is a possibility they could be executed by firing squad.

Meanwhile, the British government strongly condemned the DPR court's decision. British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss tweeted, "I completely condemn the sentences handed down by Russia's proxies in eastern Ukraine against Aslin and Pinner," adding, "They are prisoners of war, and this is a sham judgment with no legitimacy."

Boris Johnson's spokesperson also stated in a press release, "Under the Geneva Conventions, prisoners of war are entitled to immunity," and "They should not be prosecuted simply for participating in combat." The spokesperson emphasized, "Prisoners of war must not be used for political purposes," and added, "We will continue to work with Ukrainian authorities to secure the release of the two British nationals captured while serving in the Ukrainian army."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.