A court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic has found Eden Aslin and Sean Piner guilty, as well as Moroccan Brahim Saadoun for “mercenary activities”.
They defy international reactions, and especially the reactions of London, the pro-Russian separatists for the death sentence imposed on two British, but also a Moroccan.
The leader of the breakaway region of Donetsk in Ukraine said on Sunday that “there is no reason” to pardon the two Britons who were sentenced to death last week after their capture while fighting for Ukraine.
A court in the self-proclaimed People’s Republic of Donetsk on Thursday found Eden Aslin and Sean Piner guilty, as well as Moroccan Brahim Saadoun of “mercenary activities”, with the aim of “overthrowing democracy”.
Britain says Ashley and Piner they were regular soldiers and should be excluded on the basis of the application of the Geneva Conventions from criminal prosecution for their participation in hostilities.
For their part, the separatists who control Donetsk say that the convicts have committed serious crimes and have one month to legally challenge the decision.
“I do not see any legal basis or prerequisites for me to make a pardon decision,” Dennis Pushilin, the leader of the breakaway republic, was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.
The British Foreign Secretary Liz Trace condemned the death sentences on Thursday, calling it a “parody decision”.
For his part, the representative of the Prime Minister Boris Johnson said London was deeply concerned about the death sentences handed down to the two Britons, noting that it would work to secure their release.
