A Vladimir Putin ally has accused Britain of being 'arrogant' over the death sentence given to two Brits.
The Russian President's ambassador in London, Andrey Kelin, revealed Boris Johnson ’s government had appealed to Moscow concerning Aiden Aslin, 28, and Shaun Pinner, 48.
The men surrendered to the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic forces in Mariupol, and have since been sentenced by a court in the rebel region to be shot by a firing squad.
The pair were given one month to appeal, and the option to seek a pardon from a pro-Putin rebel leader who has gone on record saying he sees no reason for clemency.
Kelin was quoted by Russian state TV presenter Olga Skabeyeva as saying: “As for these two young people, who are mercenaries who fought against Donetsk as part of the Ukrainian army, I can say that there was an appeal from the British to us.
“They sent a note.
“But it was composed exclusively in arrogant and instructive terms.”
He claimed Britain “does not want to interact in these matters”.
The envoy did not give further details.
A third British detainee Andrew Hill, 35, a father of four from Plymouth, has also been warned to expect the death penalty when his verdict is handed down.
Laws in the DPR allow for an appeal for a pardon to the rebel region’s pro-Putin leader Denis Pushilin.
He has preempted the legal process by saying he sees no grounds to grant a pardon.
