Conservative MP for Newark Robert Jenrick said Russia is using two British nationals "as hostages to make a point or gain an advantage over the UK or Ukraine". Aiden Aslin, 28, from Newark, fought for Ukraine and was captured by Russia in April, and it's now been reported he has been handed a death sentence by a Russian court with another Briton.
Mr Aslin's family have pleaded for the death sentence to be overturned, saying "we love Aiden with all our hearts". People living in Balderton, where the Aslin family live, have described the situation as "absolutely awful".
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While fighting for the Ukrainian Marines, Mr Aslin was captured 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.
Also appearing at a court in the separatist Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) was fellow Briton Shaun Pinner, 48. It is claimed by state-owned Russian news agency RIA that the pair have admitted "training in order to carry out terrorist activities".
Taking to Twitter, Mr Jenrick condemned the "disgusting Soviet show trial". And on BBC Breakfast on Friday (June 10) morning, he blasted the situation as "completely outrageous".
Mr Jenrick said: "Russia has thousands of Ukrainian soldiers and Ukraine has thousands of Russian soldiers, there are exchanges going on with no show trials or death sentences, and two British nationals have been hooked out of the normal process. They're being used as hostages to make a point and gain an advantage over the UK or Ukraine.
"That's completely unacceptable and it's a breach of international law they way they've been treated. It's an enormously stressful experience for two British families to watch their sons and grandsons being beaten, put on trial and to see their health deteriorate.
"I've spoken to Aidan's family, I know them well and have known them for as long as I've been an MP. They are good people, I can't imagine the stress they're under and what it's like for them, I want to see this taken seriously."
"These men are not mercenaries, but are Britons living in Ukraine. It is a completely outrageous situation, before the invasion they served in the Armed Forces.
"They should be being treated as prisoners of war and being looked after, but instead they've been put on a show trial and have been sentenced to death. I've asked the Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to raise this with the Russian Ambassador, Brits can't be treated in this outrageous way.
"There needs to be a prisoner swap negotiated between the Ukrainian Government and Russian authorities, and the Ukrainian ambassador needs to prioritise Aidan and Shaun in those exchanges. That depends on Russia playing ball, being reasonable and abiding by international law, but nothing suggests that will happen."
The Foreign Secretary has confirmed she will be speaking with her Ukrainian counterpart on Friday. She herself calls it a "sham judgement" and insisted it has absolutely "no legitimacy".
Ms Truss said: "I utterly condemn the sentencing of Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner held by Russian proxies in eastern Ukraine. They are prisoners of war. This is a sham judgment with absolutely no legitimacy.
"My thoughts are with the families. We continue to do everything we can to support them."
A No 10 spokesman said: "We are obviously deeply concerned by this. We have said continually that prisoners of war shouldn’t be exploited for political purposes.
"Under the Geneva Convention, prisoners of war are entitled to combatant immunity and they should not be prosecuted for participation in hostilities. So we will continue to work with the Ukrainian authorities to try to secure the release of any British nationals who were serving in the Ukrainian armed forces and who are being held as prisoners of war."
