The two Britons said they were serving in the Ukrainian Marines, which makes them active soldiers who should be protected by the Geneva Conventions for prisoners of war. A Moroccan was also convicted with them.
Pro-Russian separatists have sentenced to death two Britons and a Moroccan national who were arrested while fighting in the Ukrainian army in Mariupol, Russian state media reported.
A court in Russian-controlled eastern Ukraine has convicted them Aiden Aslin and Sean Piner after a days-long process that observers called a “demonstration trial” for “fake charges” aimed at mimicking war crimes trials against Russian soldiers in Kyiv.
Ashlin, 28, of Newark, and Piner, 48, of Watford were convicted by a Donetsk court along with Soundun Brahim of “terrorism.”
The two Britons said they were serving in the Ukrainian Marines, which makes them active soldiers who should be protected by the Geneva Conventions for prisoners of war.
However, Russian state media portrayed the men as mercenaries.
