The two British men, who were detained in April, are reportedly charged with being mercenaries. They had both been in the country since 2018 and insist they were legitimately serving with Ukraine’s military – so should be protected as prisoners of war by the Geneva Convention. The UK has made clear they are prisoners of war entitled to immunity and should not face prosecution for taking part in hostilities. The court, in one of Ukraine’s breakaway regions, is not internationally recognised.
The Russian-owned news agency RIA Novosti said on Telegram: “The Supreme Court of the DPR passed the first sentence on mercenaries – the British Aiden Aslin and Sean Pinner and the Moroccan Saadun Brahim were sentenced to death, RIA Novosti correspondent reports from the courtroom.”
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