The “Supreme Court” of the self-proclaimed Donetsk “people’s republic” has launched court proceedings against foreigners accused of taking part in the war in Ukraine, Russian state news agency TASS reports, citing the “court’s” press service.
UK citizens Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin, as well as Moroccan citizen Saadun Brahim are being charged in the “DPR”. They are accused of mercenarism and forcible seizure of power by a group of persons. The captured foreign citizens face capital punishment under the last article (forcible seizure of power), taking into account that the crime was committed during wartime.
Mediazona points out that Aiden Aslin started serving in the 36th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces back in 2018. He came to Ukraine because he had a fiancé there. Judging by Aslin’s Twitter account, he was captured in mid-April. His friend, 48-year-old Shaun Pinner, who previously served in the Royal Anglian Regiment, was also captured and transported to the “DPR.”
Pinner’s relatives point out that both he and Aslin officially served in the Ukrainian army, and that they are not mercenaries.
Moroccan citizen Saadun Brahim is 21 years old. He came to Ukraine in 2019, where he studied at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. A year ago, he dropped out and signed a military contract with the 36th Separate Marine Brigade. He was captured by “DPR” troops during the battles in Volnovakha.