Two British and Moroccan nationals fighting alongside Ukrainian forces may face the death penalty after pleading guilty in a court in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, RIA News Agency reported.
The Russian agency released a video in which Aiden Aslin and Sean Bonner of Britain and Ibrahim Saadoun of Morocco were shown in cages in court, saying that Bonner and Saadoun had confessed to “violent acts aimed at seizing power”.
The video also shows Aslene confessing to a lesser charge related to weapons and explosives, standing in a cage while translating the charge for him, reviewing legal documents.
Prosecutors were also quoted as saying that the combined charges could mean the death penalty for each of the three.
British mercenaries Sean Piner and Aiden Aslin, as well as Moroccan Saadoun Brahim, partly pleaded guilty in the court of the PR Democratic Republic. pic.twitter.com/X0oETarMtR
– Spriteer (@ spriteer_774400) June 8, 2022
The two British prisoners appeared on Russian state television on Monday (April 18th) and demanded an exchange with Viktor Medvechuk, an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is in the custody of Ukrainian authorities.
The two detainees also called on British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to repatriate Medvedev in exchange for Ukraine’s release.
British law prohibits its citizens from enlisting in foreign armies with countries that are at war with Britain. Thus, after the start of the war at the end of February, the British Foreign and Defense Ministers warned of a war in Ukraine.
With the start of the Russian war against Ukraine, Ukraine had opened the door for foreigners to volunteer in what it called the “International Legion.”
Ukraine’s First Deputy Interior Minister Johann Lenin has confirmed that his country will allow foreigners who have traveled to Ukraine to take part in the war against Russia to be granted citizenship.
In the case of Russia, he also said that he would consider these foreign fighters mercenaries. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman said that if they were captured, they would “not enjoy the status of prisoners of war” under the Geneva Conventions.
The United States, like many other countries, has urged its citizens not to go to war in Ukraine, as this could have legal and security consequences. British Foreign Secretary Liz Terrace has withdrawn her support for British citizens going to Ukraine for war.
It is noteworthy that Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, which was followed by angry international reactions and the imposition of “tough” economic and financial sanctions against Moscow.
This attack by Russia is the largest attack on a European country since World War II and signals a change of order in Europe after the Cold War.
Source: Lebanon Debate
