The Supreme Court of the separatist People’s Republic of Donetsk (DPR) has sentenced three foreign fighters in the ranks of the Ukrainian armed forces to death as mercenaries. According to the Russian news agency TASS, the death penalty will be imposed for “all crimes together”. The suspects, two British and a Moroccan, must be placed before a firing squad.
The trial of the three men began Wednesday, largely closed to the public. They are accused of violent seizure of power. According to the court, the defendants “admitted their guilt”. One of the men also admitted to being trained in terrorist attacks.
The two convicted Britons are said to be Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner. The two men were captured by pro-Russian forces in the southeastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol in mid-April. A short time later, Russian state television released a video of Aslin and Pinner asking British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to negotiate their release (we reported).
According to media reports, the two men had lived and married in Ukraine before the war. After the Russian invasion, they fought on the side of the Ukrainian army. However, the Russian leadership has repeatedly stated in the past that it generally considers foreigners to be mercenaries. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov recently threatened that they would not be considered fighters and would not be subject to international laws protecting prisoners of war.
In Russia there is a moratorium on the death penalty. However, this moratorium does not apply in the separatist republics. According to media reports, the execution could take place by shooting.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
