Russia-Ukraine war: Moroccan and a Briton appeal against death sentences by DPR court

A Moroccan and a Briton, who were sentenced to death by a pro-Russian separatist court in eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, have appealed against ir sentences, according to Russian news agency TASS. report stated that Supreme Court of self-proclaimed Donetsk people’s Republic (DPR), a territory recognised only by Russia and Syria, h received appeals from lawyers of Moroccan Brahim Saoun and Britain’s Shaun Pinner. 

Saoun, Pinner and Aiden Aslin were handed out death sentences by DPR court and were designated as “mercenaries” fighting in Ukraine against Russian forces as Moscow-Kyiv war continues unabated. While Pinner and Saoun have appealed against ruling, Aslin has reportedly not yet submitted an appeal. 

sentencing of foreign nationals after being charged for “mercenary activities” has triggered intensified criticism from West against Russia as a show trial. relatives of both Britons and Moroccans have said that y were contracted to fight in Ukrainian army and refore, y should not be designated as mercenaries and should be protected under Geneva Conventions for prisoners of war. 

Meanwhile, pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine have charged two more Britons fighting with Ukrainian army against Kremlin troops as "mercenaries", reported Russian state media. Britons Andrew Hill of Plymouth and Dylan Healy of Huntingdon have been reportedly charged with “forcible seizure of power” and undergoing “terrorist” training, stated Guardian citing a state news agency in Russian-controlled Donetsk. 

charges imposed on Hill and Healy indicate that y could face death penalty as Russia categorically denied protection under Geneva Conventions to or foreign nationals captured by Moscow’s forces in four months of Moscow-Kyiv war. 

DPR court to consider appeals against sentences

Furrmore, TASS cited DPR court as saying that appeals would be considered within now more than two months. As per report, Pinner has asked for his death sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment. It is pertinent to mention that according to an updated DPR criminal code published on an official website that took effect on Friday, death penalty will start being used from 2025. However, it still remains unclear what it meant for three men.

But, European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has called on Russia to suspend execution of two British nationals who were sentenced to death by a pro-Russian court in Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). Earlier this month, DPR's Supreme Court sentenced Britons to death for fighting in Ukraine amid ongoing war. British citizens were identified as Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner. Apart from m, one Moroccan citizen was also awarded death sentence as Russia considered trio as "foreign mercenaries."

On Thursday, ECHR stated that it has agreed to grant interim measures in case of two Britons, urging Russia to guarantee suitable detention circumstances and provide m with all necessary medical care. “ European Court of Human Rights has decided to grant interim measures in cases of Pinner v. Russia and Ukraine, and Aslin v. Russia and Ukraine (application nos. 31217/22 and 31233/22) concerning two British nationals who are members of Armed Forces of Ukraine," ECHR stated in a press release.

Image: AP