Occupiers announce start date for captured foreigners’ show trial – Russian media
UKRAINSKA PRAVDA – FRIDAY, 12 AUGUST 2022, 17:10
The Russian media is reporting that Donetsk militants will begin to consider the "criminal case" of five captured foreigners on 15 August.
Source: Interfax, quoting a source within the militants’ "judicial bodies"
Quote: "The court hearing is scheduled for 15 August. It will be held in closed session."
Details: According to the media, the accused are: Swedish citizen Matias Gustavsson, Croatian Vjekoslav Prebeg, and British citizens John Harding, Dylan Healy and Andrew Hill.
According to the "laws" of the self-proclaimed republic, the foreigners are suspected of participating in an armed conflict as mercenaries, undergoing training for allegedly terrorist activities, committing actions with the aim of seizing power, and assisting in the recruitment of mercenaries.
If the guilt of the defendants is proven, according to the "laws" of the occupiers, they may face execution.
Background:
- On 9 June, terrorists in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk Oblast "sentenced" to death three foreign fighters who were defending Ukraine. These are the British citizens Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, and the Moroccan Saaudun Brahim.
- The Ukrainian General Staff stated that all foreign fighters defending Ukraine are combatants. This means that they are protected by the Geneva Convention.
- Oleh Nikolenko, spokesman for the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called the occupiers' ruling on the execution worthless.
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