The man behind the YouTube video that saw war prisoner Aiden Aslin speaking after he was captured by Russians has reportedly become the first UK citizen put on a government sanctions list. Graham William Phillips, a journalist originally from Nottingham, said he will be handed a "complete asset freeze" after posting pro-Kremlin material from Russian-occupied areas on his YouTube channel.
Phillips has been a controversial figure, receiving medals from the Russian state for his reporting. He has previously worked for the Kremlin-backed television channel RT and been accused of spreading Moscow’s propaganda.
Answering questions by email to Nottinghamshire Live, Phillips has described the sanction as "an immoral attempt of the UK Government to drive me into exile". He added: "The designation of myself as a UK government approved 'enemy of the state' has resulted in a slew of death threats against myself, and family, and a severe escalation in the danger to my life, and those of my family members."
