2 more British citizens charged as ‘mercenaries’ in Ukraine’s Russian-backed separatist region OLASMEDIA TV NEWSThis is what we have for you today:
“An investigation is now underway against British mercenaries Dylan Healy and Andrew Hill. They are charged under the same articles as the three previously convicted mercenaries. An investigation is underway and a complaint has been lodged, “the agency reported, quoting an unnamed DPR official.
The DPR is a pro-Russian region in eastern Ukraine that is not internationally recognized.
The British Foreign Office condemned the “exploitation” of prisoners for political purposes, saying it had raised the issue with the Russian government.
“We are in constant contact with the Government of Ukraine on their affairs and fully support Ukraine in its efforts to get them released,” a spokesman added.
On June 9, British Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, along with Moroccan citizen Brahim Saadoune, were sentenced to death after being convicted by a DPR court of being “mercenaries” for Ukraine, Russian state media reported at the time. .
DPR officials said the men were foreign fighters arrested by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol in April. The Russian state news agency, RIA Novosti, said Pinner, Aslin and Saadoune would be shot by a firing squad and that they had until July 9 to file an appeal.
Pinner’s attorney, Yulia Tserkovnikova, acted on behalf of her client and said Friday she would appeal on humanitarian grounds for mercy and indulgence to stop the execution. But Tserkovnikova said she would not challenge the conviction decided by the court.
“We will appeal to humanity, as the guilt of my client has been fully proven by the court. It is not necessary to say that the complaint will be based on any evidence of innocence, “Donetsk news agency Tserkovnikova was quoted as saying.
The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg on Thursday granted “interim measures” to Pinner and Aslin, and called on the Russian Federation to ensure that the death penalty is not carried out.
Interim measures are granted in respect of court proceedings when there is a “threatened risk of irreparable damage”, according to the EHRM.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian Federation was no longer complying with EHRM instructions, and suggested that the court make direct contact with the DPR.
LINK TO THE PAGE
Watch the full V1deo