Newark MP Robert Jenrick has blasted the sentencing of a Nottinghamshire man to death as a 'disgusting Soviet-era style show trial'. It has been reported that Aiden Aslin, 28, from Newark, who was captured by Russian forces in April while fighting for Ukraine, has now been handed a death sentence by a Russian court.
He was captured while fighting for the Ukrainian Marines and has been used as a bargaining chip by Vladimir Putin's regime for the release of a pro-Russian politician being held in Ukraine. Mr Aslin moved to Ukraine in 2018 and later joined the armed forces.
Fellow Briton Shaun Pinner, 48, also appeared at a court in the separatist Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). It is claimed by state-owned Russian news agency RIA that the pair have admitted "training in order to carry out terrorist activities".
Robert Jenrick, Conservative MP for Newark, posting on Twitter, said: "This disgusting Soviet-era style show trial is the latest reminder of the depravity of Putin’s regime. Russia should be clear, they cannot treat British citizens like this and get away with it.
"Contrary to the Kremlin’s propaganda, Aiden Aslin is not a mercenary. He has been living in Ukraine and serving in its armed forces before Russia’s illegal invasion and as a prisoner of war is entitled to protection under the Geneva Convention.
"The Russian Ambassador should be summoned to the Foreign Office to account for this most egregious breach of the Geneva Convention. Aiden must be released as soon as practicable."
In a later Tweet, Mr Jenrick added: "Russian proxies have subjected my constituent Aiden Aslin to a fraudulent show trial and sentenced to death. This is an egregious breach of international law and must not be allowed to pass."
