LONDON — A British family sentenced to death for its support of Ukraine has called for the release of the man and the accordance of international human rights conventions to prisoners of war.
A court in the separatist-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic of Ukraine convicted two British fighters and one Moroccan on Thursday of seeking the violent overthrow of power, an offense punishable by death in the eastern territory controlled by Moscow-backed rebels.
They were also found guilty of terrorist acts and mercenary activities.
Shaun Pinner’s family said that their entire family was devastated by the result of the illegal trial.
The family of Pinner received a statement from Britain’s Foreign Office stating that Pinner, 48, had been living in Ukraine for four years.
“We hope all parties will work together urgently to secure Shaun’s safe release or exchange. His son and his Ukrainian wife love him deeply and our hearts go out for all families affected by this terrible situation,” the statement stated.
Pinner was also described by the family as a proud “contracted-serving marine in the 36th Brigade,” which is a Ukrainian naval infantry regimen that helped to defend Mariupol’s southern port before it was taken over by Russian forces.
Pinner, a brigade member, “should be granted all rights as a prisoner-of-war according to the Geneva Convention and including full independence legal representation,” said the family.
The West and Ukraine denounced the Donetsk proceedings as a fraud and a violation to the rules of war.
Pro-Russia separatists claimed Saturday that they were planning to try a South Korean citizen who fought for Ukraine but the man had escaped. They stated that they wanted him to be tried in South Korea but were unsure how.
Ukraine has asked foreigners to resist Russia’s invasion. Some have responded, but not all of them have been accepted into Ukraine’s foreign legion.
Jan Lipavsky (Czech Republic’s foreign minister) said Saturday that a Czech national died in Donetsk, Ukraine. This was the first Czech death among foreign volunteers.
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