A Nottinghamshire man who is being held as a prisoner of war by Russian forces has been told that he could face the death penalty. Aiden Aslin, from Newark, 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. He was fighting with the Ukrainian Marines at the time of capture. A new video, released by the Telegraph, shows Mr Aslin along with fellow Brit Shaun Pinner appearing in a court in Russian-controlled Donetsk facing a number of charges including being a mercenary.
If convicted on the charges, including of trying to seize power, the men could face the death penalty. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab has said the Foreign Office will make all the representations on Mr Aslin’s behalf.
A timeline on man from Nottinghamshire captured in Russia - read more here.
He told LBC: "In relation to that case, I don’t know all the details, but of course we would expect the laws of armed conflict to be respected, and we will make sure that we will make all the representations.
"I know the Foreign Office will be looking at making sure all those representations are made."
In a statement released via the Foreign Office, Mr Aslin's family said: "This is a very sensitive and emotional time for our family, and we would like to say thank you to all that have supported us.
"We are currently working with the Ukrainian government and the Foreign Office to try and bring Aiden home. Aiden is a much-loved man and very much missed, and we hope that he will be released very soon."
Aiden's mother previously spoke to Nottinghamshire Live saying that she wants her "hero" son back home, describing him as a charismatic and very loveable individual. She added: "Aiden is a hero, he is our nation's hero who fought for Ukraine. He is a human being who fought for other human beings."
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