Newark MP Robert Jenrick says the treatment of his constituent after he was captured by Russian forces is a "flagrant breach of the Geneva Convention". Aiden Aslin, 28, was captured while fighting for the Ukrainian armed forces and has appeared in a YouTube video calling for his freedom while under duress.
Footage on Russian state TV shows him being led around in handcuffs with a cut on his forehead, having been captured. In the video, which remains on YouTube, Mr Aslin and another captured Brit, Shaun Pinner, can be seen asking for an exchange for their safe return.
The exchange concerns pro-Russian Ukrainian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, who is also in captivity. In the YouTube video Mr Aslin, from Newark, says: "If Boris Johnson really does care like he says he does about British citizens, then he would help pressure Zelensky to do the right thing and return Viktor to his family and return us to our families."
Read more: Mother of Aiden calls for his release
Both men say they have been fed and watered but 'that is all they can say'. Newark's Conservative MP Robert Jenrick spoke of his constituent's plight during Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, April 20.
Mr Aslin moved to Ukraine in 2018 where he met his girlfriend before joining the marines. Mr Jenrick is now speaking out in support.
"My constituent Aiden Aslin has served in the Ukrainian armed forces for four years. Last week he was captured by the Russian army in Mariupol," Mr Jenrick says.
"Yesterday a video emerged of my constituent handcuffed, physically injured and being interviewed under duress for propaganda purposes. Would my Right Honourable friend agree that this is a flagrant breach of the Geneva Convention, that treating any prisoner of war in this manner is illegal and the interviewer Graham Philips is in danger of prosecution for war crimes and that any online platform, such as YouTube, which hosts propaganda videos of this kind should take them down immediately.
Responding to Mr Jenrick, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: "I think everybody will want to urge the Russian state to treat his constituent humanely and compassionately because in my view, although we do not encourage people to, in fact we actively dissuade people from going to that theatre of conflict, I understand he had been serving in the Ukrainian forces for some time and his situation was very different from that of a mercenary.
"I hope that he is treated with care and compassion and I thoroughly echo the sentiments that my Right Honourable friend expresses about those who broadcast propaganda messages."
