The execution of British fighters will come back to bite Vladimir Putin

olumorocktv

Jun 11

A friend of a British fighter captured by Russian forces while fighting in Ukraine says his death sentence could backfire on Vladimir Putin.

Aiden Aslin, 28, was convicted of taking action towards violent seizure of power at a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic.

Another Brit, 48-year-old Shaun Pinner, and Moroccan national Saaudun Brahim, were also convicted after the three were accused of being 'mercenaries'.

This was despite Mr Aslin having bot British and Ukrainian citizenship, having moved to Ukraine in 2017 and legitimately joining the country's marines.

Russian state media outlet RIA Novosti reported the three are set to face a firing squad.

Brennan Phillips, an American former soldier who met Mr Aslin in Syria and worked alongside him in Ukraine, said the judgement is a 'provocation'.

Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Mr Phillips said: 'I think it will invigorate people more than anything

Aiden Aslin. British fighter 'held by Russians'. A BRITISH care worker who joined the Ukrainian military is thought to have surrendered to the Russians. Aiden Aslin, 28, was among the last fighters left in the besieged southern city of Mariupol but said he would have to give himself up after supplies ran out and the situation became hopeless. ?It?s been 48 days, we tried our best to defend Mariupol but we have no choice but to surrender to Russian forces,? Mr Aslin tweeted. — **Aiden Aslin has been in fighting in Ukraine for several years after spending time in Syria fighting Isis**

epa10006011 Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference with the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow (not pictured) following their meeting in Moscow, Russia, 10 June 2022. The Turkmen president is on an official visit in Moscow. EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV / POOL — **Putin had previously warned 'mercenaries' would be treated different, but the UK insists the captured Britons were no such thing (Picture: EPA)**

'Whatever effect they thought they would have in this provocation, I don't think that and I don't think it's going to be well-received. And they did this as a provocation.'

Mr Phillips, from Tennessee, added that 'many people expected' Russia to choose 'the most provocative stance that they could take' – namely the death sentence.

'I do not believe that Sean or Aiden will be subject to the death sentence or anything like that,' he said.

'I do believe that their captivity under the Russians will be extended for a little bit, but I do believe wholeheartedly and I'm very confident that they will be released safely back to their families.'

The UK Government has insisted the sentences have no legitimacy and the pair should be treated as prisoners of war.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets with Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdymukhamedov at the Kremlin in Moscow on June 10, 2022. (Photo by Mikhail Klimentyev / SPUTNIK / AFP) (Photo by MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images) — **Putin met with Turkmenistan's President Serdar Berdymukhamedov at the Kremlin today (Picture: AFP/Getty Images)**

Image taken from Shaun Pinner facebook page shows Shaun Pinner on February 2021 — **Shaun Pinner is a former British soldier who joined the Ukrainian military after settling in the country in 2018**

Russian news agency Interfax claimed the men would be able to appeal against their convictions.

Howard Morrison QC, the UK's Independent war crimes Advisor to Ukraine, said the sentence has likely been employed for 'negotiation purposes'. He added: 'I would hesitate to call it a judicial process, frankly.'

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