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Defense for condemned Briton asks to reduce charges in bid to avoid death penalty

Earlier, an appeal was filed by the attorney for British citizen Shaun Pinner, also sentenced to death over the same charges

MOSCOW, July 4. /TASS/. The defense counsel for British citizen Aiden Aslin, sentenced to death in the DPR for taking part in the Ukrainian conflict as a mercenary, appealed his verdict, asking to remove several charges from the conviction, lawyer Pavel Kosovan told TASS Monday.

"We ask to cancel the June 9, 2022 sentence for Aiden Aslin <…> over charges of [a crime, committed in a group] and [forceful seizure of power] and end the criminal case over these charges due to absence of signs of crime in the defendant’s actions," the lawyer said.

Earlier, an appeal was filed by Yulia Tserkovnikova, the attorney for British citizen Shaun Pinner, also sentenced to death over the same charges. The appeal asked to soften the verdict and replace the death penalty with a life sentence. The court said at the time that the appeal would be reviewed within two months.

Last Friday, the defense for Moroccan citizen Brahim Saadoun also filed to challenge his sentence. The court confirmed that the appeal was received.

On June 9, a DPR court sentenced Pinner, Aslin and Saadoun, captured in Donbass, on charges of mercenarism in the Ukrainian forces, as well as charges of crimes, committed in a group and forceful seizure of power, according to DPR law.

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Ivan Sosnin's "The Alien" represents Russia in the festival's main competition

West, Kiev indulge in nuclear blackmail by demanding control of ZNPP — Russian MFA

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Polish premier refuses to hand over his country’s Patriot systems to Ukraine

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Chief prosecutors of Russia, Venezuela sign cooperation agreement in Caracas

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Moscow International Film Festival to open in Russian capital

The Moscow Film Festival was founded in 1935, which makes it the world’s second oldest film festival after the Venice event

Russian investigators start inquiry into financing of terrorism by US, NATO officials

Investigators have established that the funds that were received through commercial organizations, such as the oil and gas company Burisma Holdings operating in Ukraine, have been used to carry out terrorist acts in Russia and abroad

Ukrainians abroad storming embassies to avoid mobilization, Russian diplomat says

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky signed the mobilization law passed by the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) in the second and final reading on April 11

Palestinian envoy says Israel plans to destroy Palestine

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Swiss parliament votes against joining task force on frozen Russian assets

The group contains US finance and justice ministers, representatives of Australia, the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Japan, as well as the European Commission

CIA chief says Ukraine could lose by end of this year — Politico

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Iran suspends flights above several cities amid reports of air attack — IRNA

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Syrian ministry says Israeli jets struck air defense facilities in country’s south

Earlier, the media reported that one of the strikes hit Tha'lah Military Airbase, with several explosions going off there

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Kremlin condemns 'illegal' seizure of villa from Russian businessman

Dmitry Peskov underscored that Moscow has already made its position clear on this matter

Ukraine convicts 12th world chess champion for recognizing Donetsk, Lugansk republics

The two other State Duma members mentioned in the verdict alongside Karpov are Viktor Kazakov and Georgy Karlov

Iran to review nuclear doctrine in case of Israeli aggression — IRGC

Ahmad Haghtalab pointed out that the Iranian Army and other security forces protect Iranian nuclear facilities using the most advanced equipment, so "national nuclear centers are completely safe"

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Fu Cong denied claims that direct talks with Israel are a vital precondition for Palestine’s UN membership

Nuclear sites in Iran’s Isfahan province are safe — Tasnim agency

Tasnim refuted foreign media reports about an incident at a nuclear site in Isfahan

Germany moves to exclude Russia from concentration camp liberation celebrations

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Israel assesses effectiveness, consequences of strike on Iran — media

A spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces declined to comment on the reports of the strike

Two pilots of jet that crashed in southern Russia hospitalized

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Military base near Iran’s Isfahan hit following attack — newspaper

The sources said that Iranian forces managed to destroy several small drones near the city of Tabriz, about 800 kilometers from Isfahan

French, US, British nukes all interwoven — Russian diplomat

Maria Zakharova described France’s decision to place its aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, directly under NATO control as a symbolic move marking the end of "the era of an independent Paris in the international arena"

China to act over possible US measures for alleged support of Russian defense sector

"China always opposes the illegal unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States and will continue to take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," Liu Pengyu said

US blocks Security Council resolution granting full UN membership to Palestine

A total of 12 countries, including Russia and China, voted in favor of the document

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Vasily Nebenzya described the US veto as a "fruitless attempt to stop the inexorable course of history"

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According to the Russian Defense Ministry, an Aerospace Forces’ Tu-22M3 bomber crashed after completing a combat mission while returning to the airfield

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Military commanders of Ukrainian army brigades "lack both personnel and the required amount of equipment" while Russian troops enjoy a considerable superiority, especially in artillery, Sergey Krivonos noted

At least 16 Syrian troops killed in terrorists’ ambush in east Syria — TV

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US veto for Palestinian membership proves Washington’s anti-Palestinian stance — Hamas

The movement called upon the international community to "break free from Washington’s influence and support the struggle of the Palestinian people"

Nord Stream AG's refusal to pay compensation destroys Western insurance system — diplomat

"The West is not only taking state assets and private property, but also threatening to destroy the major civilian infrastructure facilities, which were built with investments and then miraculously blown up, and they have now threatened insurance," Maria Zakharova said

Israeli Air Force attacks airfield in southern Syria during strike on Iran

According to local sources, a radar station located at a military site along a highway connecting the towns of Qarfa and Izraa was disabled in the attack

Shoigu orders additional tank protection sets for Ukraine operation

The minister also inspected the training process in Omsk Armor Engineering Institute

Algeria pledges to return to Palestinian membership issue — envoy

"The overwhelming support for Palestine’s membership makes it crystal clear that the State of Palestine is worthy of its rightful place among member states of the United Nations," Amar Bendjama said

Germany fails to present evidence in case of espionage suspects — Russian embassy

The Russian embassy has called attempts to probe into the alleged involvement of Russian special services in the development of rumored plans for attacks on military facilities in Germany "absurd and ridiculous"

EU summit calls to continue work on duties on Russian, Belarusian agricultural produce

The European Commission suggested introducing duties on agricultural products from Russia and Belarus earlier

Palestinian president says US veto immoral, runs counter to global community’s will

In Mahmoud Abbas' opinion, Washington’s foreign policy constitutes "an outrageous aggression against the international law"

US did not 'endorse' Israel’s retaliatory attack, but was warned about it — TV

According to Bloomberg, Israel informed the United States about its plans to strike Iran within the next 24-48 hours

US deploying missiles in Philippines to endanger global security — Russian envoy

Anatoly Antonov has urged the US "not to open Pandora's Box" and follow Russia’s suit "by taking all necessary steps to ensure global stability and predictability"

US blackmails other countries at United Nations — Russian mission

Dmitry Polyansky said "this shameful neocolonial tactics are fully exposed now in the context of Gaza War"

Investigation into Crocus terrorist attack underway, traces lead to Ukraine — diplomat

Maria Zakharova noted the need to "wait for official information from the investigation"

US names lack of reforms as reason to block Palestinian membership resolution

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Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Israel will "most likely" respond to the recent Iranian attack

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Hossein Amir-Abdollahian added that prior to the attack, Tehran said that it would not target US military infrastructure in the Middle East "except in a situation where the United States wants to take military measures in support of Israel"

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Ukrainian trace obvious in Crocus City Hall attack — Russian prosecutor general

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Tehran’s two major airports cancel international flights — Mehr

Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport suspended their operations until 10:30 a.m. local time

Iran intends to bolster military cooperation with Russia — envoy to Moscow

Kazem Jalali noted that Iran had demonstrated its ability to ensure security and nudge the region toward a de-escalation

Ukraine turns from sovereign country into Western protectorate, Hungarian PM says

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Effort to grant full UN membership to Palestine will continue — Russian mission

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Russia-China military-technical cooperation not directed against other states — diplomat

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Russia’s advanced radar in Kaliningrad to monitor entire territory of Europe — source

The first Konteiner radar went on combat duty in the Volga area region of Mordovia on December 1, 2019

Press review: Ukraine, Israel vie for EU’s attention and Georgia passes controversial bill

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Ukrainian military reportedly uses HIMARS rocket launcher to attack Gorlovka

Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin also said that an explosive device had detonated in the Kievsky District of Donetsk, injuring a man born in 1964

Situation in Iran’s Isfahan stabilizes after drone attack — media

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Iran says drones downed over Isfahan launched from country's territory

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Ukrainian military under constant gunfire by Russian troops near Urozhainoye, says POW

Yevgeny Pogrebnyak said that he was treated well by Russian troops in his captivity

Water in Kurgan above dam, breaking records

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Pipeline explodes in Kharkov Region

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Final statement by G7 top diplomats to call for supplying more air defenses to Kiev

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Colombian president displays interest in country’s entry into BRICS

Brazilian leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva welcomed Gustavo Petro’s initiative, "being committed to promotion of Colombia’s candidacy"

Russia’s defense chief inspects production of tanks, flamethrowers at Siberian enterprise

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Agents in Ukrainian, Poland foil attempt to kill Zelensky, security officials in Kiev say

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Number of applications in RuStore surpasses 37,000

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Russia, Iran maintain contacts on nuclear security - deputy foreign minister

Sergey Ryabkov said that "very soon, Russia and Iran will have new additional opportunities to discuss the situation in the Middle East in general, as well as details of what is going on there at this point"

Yerevan's refusal to delimit borders with Baku to escalate regional tensions — PM

Nikol Pashinyan pointed out that the demarcation process also involves risks, but they are manageable, after which "Armenia will become ten times stronger"

French president says creating Israeli-type air defense network for Ukraine impossible

Emmanuel Macron added that Europe’s resources are limited, and the European Union will continue helping Kiev keeping in mind its own reserves

US 'not forgetting' to help itself with aid to Ukraine — Kremlin

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Exports of Chinese goods to Ukraine rise by 50% to $783 mln in January - March

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Shoigu visits presentation of over 30 promising weapons, including robotic vehicles

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Vehicles, equipment participating in Victory Day parade depart for Moscow — ministry

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Three Ukrainian soldiers swim across Dnieper to surrender to Russian troops — governor

Vladimir Saldo called on other Ukrainian servicemen to switch to the Russian side and request the corresponding assistance

Chinese car plant to start production at former Mercedes site in Moscow region in May

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Putin points to high risk of new epidemic outbreaks

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Israel to not take responsibility for attack on Iran — newspaper

Israeli sources also said that they did not understand why the Pentagon had leaked information about Israel's involvement in the attack to the media

Ukrainian president admits Russian troops’ advancement

Vladimir Zelensky asked his country’s supporters to provide "everything that helps to hold the frontline," including shells, military vehicles and drones

Nearly half of those present in UN Security Council hall walk out before Israel’s address

israeli Permanent Representative Gilad Erdan was to address the council after Palestinian envoy Riyad Mansour

US gives nod to Israeli operation in Rafah in exchange for canceling major attack on Iran

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EU border checkpoint closest to Russia’s St. Petersburg to cut its working hours

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Kiev ordered mandatory evacuation from Kharkov Region to accommodate mercenaries

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Iran threatens to attack Israel's "nuclear centers" in case of aggression on its part

Ahmad Haqtalab argued that Israel had been conducting "subversive and terrorist activities" against the Islamic republic's nuclear infrastructure for year

Russian Aerospace Forces strike five militant hideouts in Syria’s Homs

Yury Popov said that aircraft of the so-called international anti-terrorism coalition, led by the United States, continue to set dangerous precedents in skies above Syria

Iran has no plans to immediately retaliate to attack on its soil — agency

"We have not received any external attack, and the discussion leans more towards infiltration than attack," a senior Iranian official reported

Crimea, Donbass to forever remain within Russia, Slovak PM tells national parliament

Robert Fico believes Moscow will win in its confrontation with Kiev